Coal is finite; sun, wind infinite

Editor:

A recent article said "world coal market hits home" and the price of coal-fired electricity is rapidly rising and becoming very expensive.

Our electric bills will be outrageous when the necessary federal carbon taxes are imposed. Then another rate increase when AEP passes on their expense of new carbon-capture plants to us taxpayers. It's the price of trying to clean up coal's filth. Coal will never be clean.

Coal prices will continue to rise because of its filthy externalized costs and because of questionable reserves. Recently, scientists have questioned the amount of coal reserves the industry says we have left. Scientists are asking for new probes into just how much recoverable coal is left. Both oil and coal are finite and soon gone. So we must reduce our dependence upon coal and oil.

We can't allow coal barons to destroy our state for the last "boom and bust" coal cycle to make coal barons richer. We must stop them from blowing up our mountains, our homes and destroying streams, and poisoning our air and water to extract the deadly stuff.

The solution to our energy problems rises every day. The sun and wind is forever.

Julia Bonds

Rock Creek

Casting a vote for change, hope

Editor:

OK, I confess. The last two elections I cast my vote against the Republican candidate. But not this time.

This time I have a chance to cast my vote FOR a candidate who is a symbol of hope. Barack Obama has rekindled hope in me, hope that the country I love so much will reclaim its place in the world - a place of honesty, a place of opportunity, a place of acceptance and a model for integrity.

Not this time will I cast my vote against high oil prices, against the unnecessary loss of life in Iraq, and against an almost certain-to-fail economy.

This time I have a chance to vote for change as I vote for Barack Obama, the vibrant, idealistic, and intelligent vehicle for that change. Obama personifies what we once were as a nation and what we can again become. Is it too much for me to want my children to be as proud of their country as I once was?

Editor:

A recent article said "world coal market hits home" and the price of coal-fired electricity is rapidly rising and becoming very expensive.

Our electric bills will be outrageous when the necessary federal carbon taxes are imposed. Then another rate increase when AEP passes on their expense of new carbon-capture plants to us taxpayers. It's the price of trying to clean up coal's filth. Coal will never be clean.

Coal prices will continue to rise because of its filthy externalized costs and because of questionable reserves. Recently, scientists have questioned the amount of coal reserves the industry says we have left. Scientists are asking for new probes into just how much recoverable coal is left. Both oil and coal are finite and soon gone. So we must reduce our dependence upon coal and oil.

We can't allow coal barons to destroy our state for the last "boom and bust" coal cycle to make coal barons richer. We must stop them from blowing up our mountains, our homes and destroying streams, and poisoning our air and water to extract the deadly stuff.

The solution to our energy problems rises every day. The sun and wind is forever.

Julia Bonds

Rock Creek

Casting a vote for change, hope

Editor:

OK, I confess. The last two elections I cast my vote against the Republican candidate. But not this time.

This time I have a chance to cast my vote FOR a candidate who is a symbol of hope. Barack Obama has rekindled hope in me, hope that the country I love so much will reclaim its place in the world - a place of honesty, a place of opportunity, a place of acceptance and a model for integrity.

Not this time will I cast my vote against high oil prices, against the unnecessary loss of life in Iraq, and against an almost certain-to-fail economy.

This time I have a chance to vote for change as I vote for Barack Obama, the vibrant, idealistic, and intelligent vehicle for that change. Obama personifies what we once were as a nation and what we can again become. Is it too much for me to want my children to be as proud of their country as I once was?

Not this time will I cast my vote against "...at least 100 years more in Iraq," as Sen. John McCain promises.

This time, I can vote for bringing our troops home with the dignity and a sense of pride that all of our veterans deserve.

I am idealistic you might say, but let me be, at least one more time.

Debra Ferri

Fayetteville

Choose Clinton for our children

Editor:

Clinton will fight for students and teachers.

As a student and future college professor, I believe this presidential election is significantly important to our schools and our children's future.

America needs an education system that motivates students to achieve their full potential and allows our teachers to teach to the child, not to the test. This country has always been admired for working to give every child an equal chance to thrive. If we are to achieve that goal, we need a president who will strengthen public education and get students and teachers the resources they need to do so.

I respect Hillary Clinton because she has been an advocate for children her entire life. She understands the challenges facing our schools and is committed to breaking down many of the hurdles that too often stand in the way of students' dreams. As president, she will work to put kids on the right track before they even reach kindergarten, making universal pre-K available to every child. She will end the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind and get our schools the resources they need. She will also work to put college education and technical training in the reach of anyone who wants to broaden their skills, regardless of age.

Clinton will be a strong advocate for our students and teachers. I encourage everyone to vote for her in the upcoming primary on May 13.

Erin Waggoner

Huntington