Time we shared and shared alike

The Fence Post submission by Ross Collard of Albuquerque, N.M., makes a valid point about smearing the desert Southwest landscape with solar panels and transmission lines. This complaint was evoked in spite of the fact that much of the New Mexican landscape has already been covered in the useful but visual blight of wind turbines.

It does not benefit the country as a whole to be selfish with regional resources. With careful and thoughtful planning, many resources can be tapped and shared with minimal impact on a region’s quality of life and lifestyle.

We Midwesterners should probably keep this in mind the next time the bone-dry Southwest once again starts sniffing around our abundant water resources. Just as those who moved there don’t want to see mile after mile of transmission lines, I am certain that we don’t want to see our lakes and rivers drained, our landscape broken up with mile after mile of pipeline, and our productive farm fields decreased.

Based on the argument as presented, it can be pointed out that it is not the Midwest’s fault that too many people sopped up what little fresh, potable water was once available more than 1,000 miles away.

Jon E. Guiney

Elgin