In response to Beverly Hohman’s Dec. 26 letter, “Restricting fuels ruins lifestyle,” no environmental group I know of is “trying to restrict the use of gas or natural gas,” but coal is a different story. Burning coal is the leading cause of climate change. We must make sure that the Pacific Northwest does not export coal to Asia. If we selfishly ignore climate change, we will make this planet too hot for human survival.
As a nation we should set an example to the world by gradually switching from coal to renewable energy, conservation and energy efficiency. We won’t have to give up air conditioning, cars, nor live in “straw-bale” houses.
The U.S is No. 2 in the world for possible geothermal energy, third in possible solar energy, and there is enough potential wind power in North Dakota, Montana and Texas to supply 100 percent of the U.S. energy. It won’t be easy, but if we can go to the moon, we can go “green.”
Here in the Pacific Northwest we owe it to future generations to reduce coal emissions by supporting Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal Campaign” to stop coal export to Asia.
