Dear Iowa Sierra Club members,

I wrote the following letter to the CEO of Access Energy, the rural electric
coop that provides electricity to most of the rural areas in southeast Iowa.
I would guess that many, if not all of the rural coops are publishing
propaganda in support of coal. The coops are probably indebted to the coal
industry for their profits and are willing to further the industries
campaign of misinformation, such as calling coal a "clean" energy source.
Perhaps we need to bring to their attention that we are not buying the
story.

Jack Eastman
Leopold Group   




Please sign me up for your renewable energies program. I¹m delighted that
you have started this program at Access Energy. This is a big step. I hope
that circumstances will be favorable for you to expand your usage of
sustainable energy sources.
 
I would like to suggest that you inform your customers just exactly what
renewable sources we will be putting our money to and provide some kind of
education as to the pros and cons of each source. Burning agricultural waste
may be classified as renewable, but it is not a "clean" form of energy, as
are wind and solar renewable energies. Knowing these distinctions is
important for people who are concerned about how their lives impact the
world around them. 

I am disappointed, reading in Manager¹s Corner, when you speak of energy
derived from coal as a "clean affordable energy." Despite all the advances
that have been made in reducing emissions it is a considerable stretch to
call coal a clean energy. You fail to mention that the burning of coal is
the biggest source of the mercury that is finding its way into our lakes and
rivers, contaminating fish and posing a serious danger to humans who eat
fish. You also fail to mention that the burning of coal for electricity
substantially contributes to the buildup of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, and that to date there are no feasible remedies for the
reduction of this emission. Though it may be argued that carbon dioxide is
not a pollutant, the 30% increase in atmospheric CO2 levels in the past one
hundred years is alarming and the consequences of increasing concentrations
is something our society would be wise to consider.

What we need at this time is broad-based active campaigning for full speed
development of renewable and clean energies. Promoting coal just delays this
vital transition with the consequences to bear on our children and
grandchildren.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my views. And thank you
for developing a program that supports the development of renewable
energies. 

Sincerely,

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