×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

We Need to Worry About Reliable Power

Editor, News-Register:

Listening to and reading this past few weeks about the concern that we, the United States of America iare so dependent on other countries for our power from the grid, I am more than puzzled to why we as a nation that is so concerned with national security would be shutting down, closing and eliminating our very own power sources.

The reports and articles state that the United States is putting itself at risk with our dependence on power sources from other countries that literally keep us running. The reality that a city, state or an entire region could be, at the turn of a switch be left in the dark, in the cold/heat and struggling to communicate without  the power to use our computers, ATMs or phones is a fact.

So why would those who make bold speeches about their concern about terrorism and the safety of our nation in the same presentation make claims that our power plants in the U.S. are to be shut down due to the use of coal?

Since the 1970s, the U.S. power plants have had to meet strict air quality standards that not only were costly to them but also increased rates for every person who flips on a switch in their home. The buzz term at that time was “acid rain.” These regulations were a moving target.  The rules not only changed but did so every few years. This is obvious as you ride past a power plant and see multiple stacks that are different in height. As the power plants complied and the coal industry implemented new ways to make the emissions less the reality that we will always need our own power has not been addressed.

No doubt that air quality is a concern to all of us and we all need to be a part of the solution however to put blame solely on the heavily regulation power plants and coal industry and not the auto industry and other industrial facilities just is not politically correct. Since we know that auto emissions are also a huge contributor to the ozone deterioration, should we stop the use of motor vehicles? And if we do what would be the outcome? The auto industry has also had to comply with strict regulations but we are all not driving new cars that were built with the new regulations in place. So do we go door to door and make those who drive the older non-compliant vehicles take them off the road? They are still out there releasing toxic fumes that are part of the issue.

We are also not the only country using coal to produce power. The air, in case you did not know, does and can blow east to west and west to east. The countries that produce the most emissions from their power plants are in areas that when the wind blows it comes our way. We as a nation cannot control what blows in from other parts of the world nor can we play the gate keeper for all atmospheres. Holding our country accountable for the entire universe is just simply absurd.

If we are to live in a clean environment the United States of America cannot assume full responsibility of keeping the ozone free of toxins. If we are to remain safe and free from the threat of being shut off from our outside power sources we must assume responsibility of our own power sources.

Just imagine the entire north east coast being shut off by a terrorist group. Put in the dark and at a standstill the area where much of the nation’s and world’s financial transactions take place and our nation’s leaders reside.

We may be our own worst enemy … not coal.

Lori Kestner

Marshall County

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today