At This Point, Fossil Fuels Are a Necessity
To all the anti-fossil fuel people:
You need to stop and look at a few facts. Yes, some day we will run out. Yes, they can contribute to global warming. But until we find a viable, cost effective alternative, we need to use fossil fuels.
Clean coal is being used to generate electricity right now in North Dakota by Great River Energy. Its plant burns lignite coal, and its emissions are below all EPA standards. It supplies electricity to more than 650,000 consumers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its sells its excess heat to other nearby industries.
Since the U.S. is the “Saudi Arabia” of coal (coal is found in abundance all over in the U.S.) why aren’t we supporting clean, coal-generated electricity? When I put that question to a 30-plus-year board member of Great River Energy, he said it is very simple.
The “Greenies” of the U.S. have so polluted everyone’s concept of coal that no one wants to invest money in clean coal because their plants will be shut down before they get a return on their investment.
Shame on you, “Greenies.” With China bringing online several new coal-fired electricity generating plants per month with no desire to be clean, the Earth’s atmosphere is going to be polluted by them whether we burn coal or not.
We need to show the world that coal can generate electricity efficiently and cleanly and then convince other countries to use the same technology.
Now to you anti-oil exploration and production people. How do you travel from one protest to another? I’m pretty sure you don’t walk. Where does the plastic for your kayaks come from? When we see you interviewed on TV, we see you like to wear fleece jackets. Where does fleece come from? See the trend here?
You enjoy protesting against something that makes up the stuff you use every day. What gives here? Cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Sure it would be nice to move about the world and clothe ourselves without using oil-based products. But until something new is developed, we are stuck with using oil-based products. Protest to make it better, not eliminate it.
My point is that in a perfect world we would not have to do anything in our everyday activities that would cause pollution. But, we are not to that point yet. So let’s put our energies and money into developing ways to use what we have lots of more cleanly and efficiently.
Think of how efficient and clean our cars, planes, trains and electricity would be if the entire budgets for Greenpeace and Sierra Club for the past 25 years would have been put into clean coal and oil production and use. Let’s get our priorities straight.
Ken Kristenson
Chehalis
Braun Grandstanding on Salary Increase
Sen. John Braun was recently praised by The Chronicle and its Facebook fans for his opposition to the 11 percent raise for legislators approved by the Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
What Braun failed to mention is that these salary increases are not effective immediately, so he is not losing anything by refusing a pay increase that will not occur for months. According to the Commission’s website, the raises do not go into effect until 90 days after the new salary schedule is filed by the Commission with the secretary of state; this must be done by June 1. Assuming the Commission takes that long, the salary increase won’t be effective until Sept. 1. Braun was quoted as saying “… I won’t be accepting any pay raise until we finish work on the state’s budget.”
I interpret this to mean that either Braun doesn’t intend to finish a budget before September or he is giving up nothing by foregoing a non-existent raise.
It’s worth remembering the budget should have been completed by April 26 during the regular legislative session. While some constituents may be impressed by his “noble sacrifice,” his announcement certainly looks like pointless grandstanding to this voter.
Amy White
Centralia
Retiring CC Music Instructor Praised
Thanks to Brad Andersen for his recognition of Centralia College (May 16 edition of The Chronicle).
Recently I attended a student celebration for Donna Huffman, who is retiring this year after 25 years as head of the college Music Department.
The individual attention paid to every student was emphasized by each speaker, and many spoke of the lasting influence Huffman has had on their lives. I am proud to be part of the Centralia College family.
In 1955, my husband, Ken, was appointed head of the (much smaller) Music Department, and he provided the same encouragement and learning opportunities as his successor. When Ken retired after 35 years of teaching, Huffman arrived. It pleases me to know there have been 60 years of continuous quality instruction in the Music Department, led by these two highly qualified professionals.
And I’m grateful that these qualities are recognized and acknowledged by others, throughout all departments and disciplines. We have a valuable and respected seat of learning here in our midst.
Audrey Kimball
Centralia
