Letters: Hopes for better energy policy
A thick blanket of smoke is seen against the setting sun as young ragpickers search for reusable material at a garbage dump in New Delhi, India on Oct. 17, 2014. A groundbreaking agreement struck Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, by the United States and China puts the world's two worst polluters on a faster track to curbing the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. Credit: AP / Altaf Qadri
I read with dismay that increased costs for oil and natural gas will make us pay more to heat our homes [“LI braces for cold, costly winter,” News, Dec. 4]. The higher costs reflect the attitudes of people who fight vehemently against nuclear and solar power, wind farms, hydrofracking and oil drilling in this country.
Perhaps when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, sense will be restored. As Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said, “I can’t wait for the adults to be in charge on Jan. 20.”
Joseph Fasano, Massapequa Park
I was thrilled to read Newsday’s editorial “The economy vs. the environment? It’s a false choice” [Nov. 27].
Climate change is my biggest concern about the incoming Trump administration. Newsday makes the excellent point that market forces are now driving us toward renewable energy, which will result not only in a slowing of global warming and sea-level rise, but in cleaner air and water, and a great many good-paying, local jobs.
The nation’s first offshore wind farm, off Block Island, is nearing completion, and the Long Island Power Authority plans another off Montauk.
But there is even more reason to be cautiously hopeful about the next four years: Republicans in Congress opposed to regulations are beginning to make strides toward finding a market-based solution to climate change. In September 2015, 13 House Republicans introduced the Gibson Resolution, named for former Rep. Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook), which calls for Congress to act on climate change. That number is up to 16.
In February, Reps. Ted Deutche and Carlos Curbelo of south Florida formed the new, bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. It has been nicknamed the “Noah’s Ark” caucus, because members are required to join two by two, with one Democrat and one Republican. The caucus has 20 members, including Long Island Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Lynn Meyer, Bayside
