Renewable energy is clearly the future

Editor:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Shout for joy all ye citizens, celebrate the trends for clean air and curbing greenhouse gas emissions that will keep us and the planet healthy. The figures are encouraging.

As reported by Ken Bossing, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, the January report by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reported that in January renewable sources of energy now account for 15.66 percent of total installed U.S. operating generating capacity: hydro,  8.50 percent; wind, 5.17 percent; biomass, 1.29 percent; solar, 0.38 percent; and geothermal, 0.32 percent.

The significant number for West Virginia is that by comparison, coal is now under 30 percent and continuing downward. Oil accounts for 3.54 percent of total operating generating capacity, nuclear for 9.23 percent, and natural gas for 42.37 percent and rising. (This is from ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/2013/jan-energy-infrastructure.)

 Now to be accurate, as Mr. Bossing points out, "Generating capacity is not the same as actual generation. Actual net electrical generation from renewable energy sources in the United States now totals about 13 percent, according to data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration."

 The January 2013 increase in renewable energy generating capacity coming on line is a three-fold increase over January 2012. One may argue that month may not be proof of a permanent trend, except it is yet another data point on a clear trend. The question the legislators ought to be asking is what are we doing to participate in this strong economic growth and job-creating trend, not, as the new West Virginia tea party AG seems to want, wasting tax dollars by chasing windmills to fight the federal government on Supreme Court supported action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Its time for the governor and the legislature to get serious about increasing incentives to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and create new clean safe jobs for the displaced miners that could be laid off as these trends continue. How about starting with a F.I.T. Program that has worked so exceptionally well everywhere it has been applied ... from Germany to Ontario to several states.

The future is clearly renewable energy ... are we willing to grab it or will our leadership keep their heads buried in the coal tipple?

Allan Tweddle

Charleston

Sheriffs have right to disobey laws

Editor:

According to the U.S. Constitution (Article VI), the Geneva Convention's Article III and Rule 154 and the Uniform Code of Military Justice our civil/military personnel have a legal obligation to disobey the law. In summary, one has a right, duty, requirement or obligation to disobey an order or directive that one considers unlawful or in direct violation of the constitution. This is necessary because the "right to disobey" is a higher moral duty; this vigilance is what keeps us humane, sane and free. The absence of this was particularly horrific at the Nuremberg trials where Nazi war criminals pleaded innocent to mass genocide because they were just "carrying out orders."

Refusal of the law is part of a sheriff's duty. Sheriffs have specifically taken an oath to uphold our constitution. That includes disobeying any laws, decrees, edicts, rulings that override and tear down the constitution. They protect the public by enforcing the laws and also by refusing to enforce laws that would harm the public. Were the sheriffs to follow an unlawful order of the president that would make them an unlawful federal militia without jurisdiction. Ironically, were they to follow the "law" in carrying out an unlawful executive order, the sheriffs would be breaking the law that they are sworn to uphold. In other words, the president has put them in a catch-22; they would break the law either way they go. Sheriffs may be leery of a sitting president who views our constitution, Congress and courts as nothing but bothersome, antiquated institutions that seem to get in his way.

Von Albert Ehman

Charleston

Give parents options on Pre-K education

Editor:

I read Dawn Miller's column on the governor's address on education. Of course, I am a proponent of quality early education. I also agree that parents are the child's first and most important teacher. With that said, I hope the intentions for West Virginia Pre-K is to continue to give parents a choice of the type of Pre-K that best facilitates their child's learning. Some parents prefer a half-day pre-K experience because one parent has elected to stay home, but they would like a part-day experience for their preschooler for the socialization and the academic skills that are offered. These parents also value the educational experiences that enrich their child's life but do want or need the care for all day.

 Granted, many parents need full day pre-K and their children would benefit with this option.

As a professor in child development, I only hope that we give parents options and do not use a "one size fits all" mentality. Dedicated parents do know their children the best and we need to respect that.  

Bobbie Gibson Warash

Morgantown