1/05 Letters: Homeowners like me need solar rebates, but one NC lawmaker won’t help

Solar energy

As a final hurrah for 2019, Duke Energy confirmed that I will not be receiving the expected $4,760 rebate after spending more than $20,000 on a solar project for my home. And that there are dozens of North Carolinians in an identical situation.

How did so many of us get here? Look no further than Rep. Dean Arp, co-chairman of the Energy and Public Utilities committee. I wrote and called Arp, spoke with his assistants, and made many efforts to ensure he knew this problem was coming to dozens of North Carolinians. He never brought bills up for consideration that could have fixed the problem (like HB 889) — despite the support of his co-chair, John Szoka.

Solar energy is good for the energy grid, the planet, and for North Carolina. But as long as this legislation goes unfixed, don’t plan on any Duke Energy incentives to help make it good for your wallet.

Scott Neidich, Durham

Local tech scene

Zachery Eanes’ “The question for the Triangle tech scene in 2020: Can it keep up the pace of growth?” (Dec. 24) sounds so upbeat, but I have to report a gap in the continuum. The community colleges are churning out a lot of kids with associates degrees in computer programming but they are having a hard time finding jobs. Why is that? We don’t know exactly as the community colleges are just starting to investigate what happens to their graduates in IT.

The marketplace is crazy for programmers but only if you have two years of experience or a bachelor’s degree. How can our AA grads get experience if no one will hire them?

In traditional community college trade jobs, there is a bridge between the college and the workplace. Our tech schools do not have a bridge between the program and workplace. They could use it.

Janice Woychik, Chapel Hill

Zane’s column

There are some serious omissions in J. Peder Zane’s “The heavy price of Trump hatred,” (Dec. 23 Opinion).

If President Trump believes the charges against him are a “hoax,” “sham,” or “witch hunt,” then it is within his power to set the record straight and place his hand on the Bible and demonstrate otherwise.

Both presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton faced impeachment charges because they lied to the American public. If Trump believes he’s done no wrong, he has every opportunity to prove his critics wrong. All of us are waiting. The ball is in his court.

Greg Bruhn, Raleigh

Biased senators?

In paneling a jury if a prospect voices a prejudice one way or the other, they are dismissed and are not seated. I question why is that not applicable to an impeachment trial.

We all know how partisan the voting will be, but prior to hearing the case how can senators publicly voice their opinions and votes?

Two senators, Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham, have done so adamantly, and I ask why they are allowed to be on the jury. Should they be dismissed by Chief Justice Roberts?

Jim Nolan, Morehead City

Nancy Pelosi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi knew beforehand that the GOP is in control of the Senate and went ahead on impeachment. And now she is holding it up. This proves incompetence.

Lee Stem, Durham

Burr and Tillis

Regarding “Schumer demands White House emails, documents” (Dec. 24):

The Republican Party is widely compared these days to a cult. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis find themselves in the Trump cult, but they are not, I suspect, true believers. They are both too smart for that.

They are, however, acutely aware of the penalty for leaving. They’d never be elected again and never be offered one of those plush lobbying jobs reserved for the Party faithful.

But our senators are different from the other cult members in that they can stop this national tragedy before it plays out any further. I hope they are considering what our nation needs them to sacrifice in these dark days.

What history requires shouldn’t be difficult to justify. Just accede to the requirements of a fair trial in the Senate. If the relevant testimony and documents are supportive of the president, they will be vindicated. What are they afraid of?

Richard Prust, Chapel Hill

Dan Forest

I was so disappointed to hear the lies Lt. Gov. Dan Forest publicly professed about “violent” undocumented immigrants victimizing “tens of thousands of children in our state.”

At a time when the U.S. president lies frequently and freely, it would be refreshing if other politicians could stick to the truth. Democracy is doomed in a government where politicians lie to the people.

If Forest is truly concerned for the welfare of North Carolina’s children I hope he would look at our ailing education system, lack of affordable medical care, and the gun violence I read about daily. These are real and tragic threats to our children.

Linda Forcum, Holly Springs

This story was originally published January 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM.