Readers speak out on environmental issues

Take ‘Clean Path’

Regarding “A pipeline to new industry” (Jan. 13): Every time a Duke Energy executive calls fracked natural gas “clean-burning,” it’s a pivotal lie of omission that very few reporters have been allowed to scrutinize since U.S. utilities began a huge expansion of gas burning. (oped January 13) Indeed, natural gas burns cleaner than coal, but gas is mostly methane, which is 80 to 100 times stronger than carbon dioxide at trapping atmospheric heat, and its effects are immediate. So much unburned gas escapes into the air before reaching the power plant, the fuel is even worse for the climate than coal.

A powerful new NASA-led study concludes that methane emissions from the oil and gas industry have grown rapidly, and NASA’s findings support many earlier studies showing gas is a key driver of global warming. They also bolster the argument that the U.S. fracking boom is linked to soaring global temperatures since 2014, and connected somewhat less directly to the acceleration of extreme weather that’s devastating communities worldwide – including the very people across eastern North Carolina who Duke Energy claims would benefit from its proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

As for the economic promises of the ACP: Super-storms and other climate disasters are already heavily penalizing eastern North Carolina in lives, pain and lost property, a price sure to worsen. Instead, Duke Energy should help advance Clean Path 2025, a plan that would create thousands of jobs statewide by quickly replacing fossil fuel electricity with cheaper, reliable on-site solar power with battery backup.

Tariff hurts N.C.

I was disappointed (but not surprised) when I read “Trump applies tariffs to solar panels, washing machines” (Jan. 22). Climate change has had such a negative effect on the U.S. in the past year, but I can’t help but think of my own family.

We’ve run our family farm in North Carolina for 25 years, growing hay for our animals and other farms. However, the last four years have been the hottest on record, and we’ve gone from making money off our crops to losing money while trying – meaning that North Carolina’s agricultural economy steadily grows weaker.

So when a U.S. Trade Representative says that this tariff proves that “The Trump administration will always defend American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses,” I have to disagree. The way we obtain energy currently is damaging our climate, our farms, and North Carolina. A tariff on solar energy only means that the U.S. is one step farther from sustainably supporting agriculture. For those concerned about the tariff on solar panels, I implore you to ask Senators Burr and Tillis to protect North Carolinians by supporting the EPA’s research and refusing the environmental budget cuts and tariffs.

Prevent methane leaks

According to “Georgia, NC and SC all post the warmest year on record in 2017” (Jan. 18), increased warming might “bolster supporters of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline,” because “natural gas burns cleaner with less carbon dioxide emissions than coal and other energy sources.”

Natural gas does burn more cleanly than coal. However, methane leakage from power plants and pipelines adds to the greenhouse gas effect. Although researchers disagree about rates of methane leakage, no one disputes that methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (34 times stronger than CO2 at trapping heat over 100 years; 86 times stronger over 20 years, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists).

Since we don’t all agree on the extent of methane leakage, we would do well to heed the words of Bill Schlesinger, former dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment: “As the arguments for coal versus natural gas play out in the coming months, the choice will depend upon the leak rate for natural gas. If you want to hedge your bets, encourage your power company to invest in wind, solar, tidal or geothermal power. These are now cost-competitive with coal and offer a no-regrets future.”

Demand carbon tax

With the rise of innovation and technology, we continue to hurt our planet through exploiting its natural resources. Despite the controversy surrounding its validity, climate change is real, and the facts in support are overwhelming. With the rise of greenhouse gas levels and carbon pollution rates, our global temperature continues to steadily increase.

This change affects almost every aspect of our environment. With the recurrence of natural disasters becoming more frequent, we can see that something is happening. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, cannot become the norm; they must be a warning sign to us all.

Scott Pruitt must not stop people from making their voices heard. With the majority of scientists on our side, we must alert public officials of the importance of limiting our carbon footprint through rethinking our energy sources and limiting our use of fossil fuels. By enforcing a carbon tax, Congress could impact the major role currently played by coal companies in our society. Every citizen has a role to play in our democracy, and in order to protect our planet, that role must be to contact members of Congress and demand a tax on carbon.

‘Clean house’

Regarding “Trump applies tariffs to solar panels, washing machines” (Jan. 22): President Trump has thrown another bone to the fossil fuel industry with his 30 percent tariff on solar panels from China. While the rest of the world is moving forward on renewable energy, our government continues “business as usual.”

Solar panels from China are much cheaper than solar panels manufactured in the U.S., so this tariff will make solar energy much more expensive for Americans. The next “business-friendly” step could be a 30 percent tariff on clothing coming from China and other foreign sources. Will this bring back the textile mills? Probably not, but it will certainly cause our clothing purchases to be more expensive.

Could we start the November elections now? It’s time to “clean house.”

This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Readers speak out on environmental issues."