In a recent letter, “Affordable energy requires honest accounting” (Herald, May 6), the author made interesting arguments regarding the debate over fossil fuels vs. solar and wind energy. However, the fossil fuel industry has at least one distinct advantage. Through massive campaign contributions to preferred candidates — including the hundreds of millions donated to President Donald Trump during a fundraiser luncheon at Mar-a-Lago — legislative influence to suppress development of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar becomes law, proving once again that the old congressional tradition stands: “Access is more important than influence.”
After Trump promised those fossil fuel executives that he would grant their wishes in exchange for those large donations, he and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are doing just that. The evidence is clear: large-scale wind and solar contracts are being canceled by the Trump administration as promised to his donors.
There is no question that, for the time being, fossil fuels and alternative energy will have to coexist. We need alternative sources of energy where they can do the greatest good. Meanwhile, fossil fuels will be needed, probably through this century, for commercial and military aircraft and ships — although conversion to nuclear-powered vessels already exists, with eventual conversion to nuclear power for most shipping and military vessels likely.
But the author dodged the crucial issue. Every effort must be made to address climate change before the proverbial midnight deadline. For now, we need both industries while working to reduce carbon emissions.
Dave Ohman
Durango