Reasonable-sounding deception, delivered with a well-modulated radio voice, is still deception.
Here the actual truth: we are inextricably tied to our environment. If the environment is poisoned, we are poisoned. If the environment fails, we will ultimately fail. This is an inescapable fact, and those who attempt to convince us that environmental concerns are anathema to our our "way of life" are dealing in fear and willful deception. Our connection to a healthy environment depends upon a sustainable use of our resources. Carbon emissions have increased, and the effects of climate change are impending faster than anticipated. We are close to the tipping point, and we may directly suffer the effects of climate chaos. There is no passing it on to our children to suffer it.

We are supposed to trust corrupt politicians and energy corporations to preserve our precious natural blessings for future generations because they have purer motives than people who advocate for our environment. Really? Telling people they will lose their way of life is the worst kind of fear-mongering. Deception in the service of profit is the worst kind of ethical assault!

If we decided, despite the stranglehold the energy companies have on our politics and our media, the effort required to research & fund alternative energy - we could experience a better "way of life," less pollution, more - not less - energy security, more energy choices and more control of how we use them. We could even give our children a stable climate and a secure future. We could lose only inefficiency, and continuing reliance to the tender mercies of fossil fuel corporations. Instead, We will continue subsidize their enormous profits, without recourse or alternative!

Interesting discussion! As an amateur astronomer I would like to add that if you need to have outside lighting please use efficient night sky friendly designs. Some good examples can be found at the International Dark Sky Association website.
http://www.darksky.org/outdoor-lighting
While I understand that some outside lighting is necessary, lighting that spreads over unintended areas or into space is a display of wasted energy. Also when we hear so much these days about the need for our younger generations to learn about science and technology please understand that unnecessary lighting, or light pollution as some of us call it, may be inhibiting a possible future scientist, engineer or astronaut from viewing the wonders of the night sky, and thereby destroying an incentive for them to pursue related studies .