Opinion

Make transition to clean energy

Posted January 28, 2012 5:04 am

Donn Dears’ outlandish Fence Post submission of Jan. 15, “EPA’s war against coal a disservice,” requires response. The “gold standard” study referenced was a study of low levels of mercury in fish, not mercury levels in coal plant emissions. It is so typical these days to see the manipulation of information to advance a personal agenda. Is that the best study you can find given all the research on coal emissions? Or is it there are no studies of coal emissions that state there are no problems?

I see you live in Geneva, a nice safe distance from the Fisk power plant in Chicago shown by a 2010 study by the Clean Air (not fish) Task Force to be responsible for 15 premature deaths per year and 200 hospitalizations due to toxic (not just mercury as if that is all there is to worry about) emissions. I could go on and on stating the negative health and environmental statistics associated with coal-fired electricity generation, but most people get it.

If we stop trying to protect a dying industry and transition to clean renewable energy sources that offer unlimited supply of wind and solar and the largest economic development opportunity for generations to come, there won’t be any shortage of electricity or jobs. But we indeed have a shortage of foresight and accurate information that we must first overcome.

Peter Gorr

Palatine

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