Dear Editor,
The Environmental Protection Agency is coming to our state to hear comments from citizens of Oklahoma and I want to encourage readers to support their efforts to require Oklahoma power plants to comply with the standards of the Clean Air Act.
More pollution is produced by coal than by nearly any other source of energy. Mercury, sulfur, and other particulates from coal plants are bad for our health and bad for our economy. Why should we spend nearly a half billion dollars a year purchasing coal from other states when we have cleaner, cheaper, healthier energy sources right here in our state, like natural gas and wind. On economic reasons alone, it is time to replace our aged and polluting coal-fired power plants.
Each generation has a duty to be responsible stewards of God's creation. We owe our children and grandchildren the cleanest air and water that we can give them. They deserve nothing less than the best. That will require that we exercise the greatest caution in using sources of energy that will poison our planet. We have the time and resources to get this right.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bruce Prescott
Executive Director,
Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists
1017 Elm Ave. Norman, OK
I got an e-mail Monday afternoon from J McReynolds, "Your Views" Editor for the Oklahoman, asking me "EPA coming when? Where?"
I responded with information about the meeting today and a link to a news story last week about the hearing. McReynolds responded:
"Then it's too late for a letter. Time-sensitive letters should be submitted at least seven days before an event."
I'll make note of that unwritten rule the next time I write a letter to the editor.
2 comments:
Sounds like a policy they made up on the spot to me.
Interestingly I was at an energy conference last summer (The 4th Annual OSU Energy Conference, held April 30, 2010). Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake, Larry Nichols of Devon, and Peter Delaney of OGE Energy, and others, spoke.
The surprising thing to me that came out was that Oklahoma has enough natural gas fired generation right now to shut down the coal fired units. The problem is that, at that time, coal is much cheaper than natural gas to burn, and the estimate was that consumers would see 30 to 40% higher electric bills.
I regret that I can't find in my notes who said that, I think it was Mr. McClendon with some discussion by Mr. Delaney, but that surprised me.
Dr. Prescott;
I'm sorry to hear of your shabby treatment at the hands of The Oklahoman, but not surprised.
I wrote late last month about Gov. Fallin reassuring her big Energy Industry donors that: "I'll be there as your governor to stand up for the energy industry because it is a very important industry to our state." My full posting is available here:
http://blueoklahoma.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=2083
With U.S. House Republicans attempting to strip the EPA of its regulatory power, I'm not sure that our future generations will be able to enjoy air or water that doesn't come from a bottle - which would probably suit the corporatists just fine...
okiepoli
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