Sierrans and Friends:
Below are 4 LTEs on Energy which appeared in the Sunday Des Moines Register,
8/24/03. Obviously we did not work to generate the 4th one, I include it
FYI. The first 3 are either generated by our energy work in Iowa, or at
least capture some similar message. A great day for LTEs!
As a reminder, hearken back to my earlier email and you can still offer an
LTE of your own on energy. We definitely want to keep this issue front and
center of the political debate this Fall with the Energy Bill now in
House/Senate Conference Committee in Washington, and Sen. Grassley being one
of the conferees.
So send your letter now!
Lyle R. Krewson
Sierra Club Conservation Organizer
*****
LTE #1
While we are still waiting to hear exactly what triggered the most massive
blackout in U.S. history, it is clear that it is a tangible consequence of
our overreliance on a cumbersome centralized power system largely based on
polluting fossil and nuclear-power plants.
The energy industry and its allies are opportunistically calling for further
deregulation and the construction of more power plants and transmission
lines disguised as "modernizing" our electric system. And presidential
candidates were quick to speak out from Iowa, bashing the president for not
spending more money on transmission-grid upgrades.
There is no question that our electric grid needs modernization. But the
emphasis should not be on more subsidies for business as usual - building
more power lines to link to more large power plants. Nor should the response
be more deregulation of the industry.
To prevent future problems, America deserves a reliable, affordable and
cleaner energy system. We should use our technological know-how to increase
energy efficiency and conservation, shift to clean, renewable energy sources
and put a premium on smaller local power sources with more local control.
Amber Hard
Iowa PIRG
Des Moines.
*****
LTE #2
If the blackout was caused by obsolete infrastructure the energy industry
knew needed updating, why is the Bush energy plan declaring the $50 billion
price tag to clean up the whole mess should come from taxpayer money?
Isn't it the energy companies' job to maintain the infrastructure? But some
people think it's the government's job to pick up after sloppy work. So,
instead of money going to things the government should do, our money is
going to companies that screwed up.
Some say it doesn't matter because if the companies paid for rebuilding, the
people would pay for it in the form of higher energy bills. But it does
matter. When energy bills skyrocketed in California, there was a new demand
for alternative energy sources. Solar power, wind power and geothermal
flourished, which cost the energy companies" market share. The same thing
would happen again if they had to pay for their mistake.
By having the government pick up the tab, they can protect themselves from
competition. They shouldn't be rewarded; they should be fined.
David Youngberg
Davenport.
*****
LTE #3
Thank you for a well-written recap on the subject of energy outages ("Keep
Iowa Blackout Proof," Aug. 16 editorial).
It always puzzles and concerns me how infrequently energy conservation is
mentioned as to the positive benefits. This editorial was no exception, with
the value of energy conservation not even politely mentioned.
Is the wastefulness of America so pervasive that conservation and judicious
use of precious resources have become a foreign and forgotten concept?
Paul Johnson
West Des Moines.
*****
LTE #
Liberal members of Congress, such as New York Senators Hillary Clinton and
Charles Schumer, have blocked every energy program advanced by the Bush
administration.
During the eight years of the Clinton administration, the energy policy was:
Don't look for new oil, don't drill for new gas, don't build new generating
plants, don't do anything to rile the environmental wackos. Just sit there
and act as if there is no impending energy crisis.
Senators Clinton and Schumer have voted against every energy bill put before
them. In fact, when the license renewal for a nuclear-power plant in New
York state came due this spring, both Clinton and Schumer voted against the
renewal.
When the blackout hit the country, who do you suppose were the first two to
jump up and blame President Bush? Surprise, surprise. It was Senators
Clinton and Schumer.
Jack Banghart
Des Moines.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyle R. Krewson
Sierra Club Conservation Organizer
6403 Aurora Avenue #3
Des Moines, IA 50322-2862
515/276-8947
515/238-7113 - cel
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