Forum writer John Yocom (“Energy Research is Needed,” Oct. 4), wants to introduce some “common sense” to the discussion of energy initiated by the announcement of the Irving Institute. He makes two points. First, renewables cannot replace carbon-based fuels or nuclear energy because they have a low energy density. Second, carbon fuels such as oil and coal are “renewable” because the are actually produced in the Earth’s crust and not, as scientists have been telling us, created from ancient plant and animal carbon.
There is a grain of truth in both of these points, but it is a very small grain. Oil and coal are indeed energy-dense. They are, in many ways, the ideal fuel because they can be easily transported and stored. Fossil fuels also have the advantage that we have an existing system to support them. Why would we want to abandon them?
There are two big reasons. They are a finite resource and as we continue to deplete them, it will cost more and more to recover them. We will never extract all of the coal and oil because, at some point, the energy needed to extract them will exceed the energy they yield. His second point, that we may never run out because the Earth is replenishing them, refers to a theory called “abiotic” oil. While there has been serious scientific research on methane production in the Earth’s crust, the idea that this is a source of our carbon fuels has been roundly debunked. The amount of methane produced is small compared with what we extract and it is unclear how this methane magically turns into coal and crude oil.
Of course, the biggest reason to turn away from fossil fuel is that the ancient carbon released by its use is warming the planet in potentially catastrophic ways. This is where we see Mr. Yocum’s true agenda since he does not believe that CO2 is at all dangerous and that the warming we are seeing is a myth.
Can we replace fossil fuels with renewables? Modeling of renewable energy futures by researchers at Stanford have described feasible paths to this goal. Based on this work, The Sierra Club has joined with other groups to press Upper Valley communities to move to renewable electrical energy by 2030 and a totally renewable energy sector by 2050. This campaign, called Ready For 100, will be hosting educational events over the next months to promote an active discussion of the opportunities and challenges to meeting these goals. We welcome a full and fact-based discussion.
Michael Hillinger Chair, Sierra Club Upper Valley Group Etna
I am voting for Jill Stein (and was an active Bernie Sanders supporter). Stein supports everything that is good and right for our country, for the planet and the world community. I will not be intimidated into voting for less than that. We need to come down on the side of (even if we don’t get all of it right away!): 100 percent transition to renewable energy by 2030; living-wage jobs for all Americans; ending poverty, health care and education as a right; protecting the Earth; racial justice now; peace and cutting the military budget; and clean elections. And we need a third party that represents the people.
When I think of Trump and Clinton I ask myself, which is the greater evil?
Is it Trump, being a buffoon and an immature racist crazy who will be opposed by both houses of Congress on both sides of the aisle and who will be stopped at every turn by an enlivened, active and outraged left and even by the neocon war hawk elites and military who are supporting Clinton?
Or is it Clinton, the corrupt, dishonest war hawk and behind-the-scenes supporter of moneyed interests — ruling elites, neocons, bankers and the military-industrial complex? Neither of them represent the people, although some of Trump’s policies, such as opposing the TPP and wanting cooperation with Russia rather than reheating the Cold War, are better for the people. (I believe Clinton’s recent opposition to the TPP will change when she gets in and Obama will probably assist her by trying to pass it in the lame-duck session before she gets in.)
I will make a bet with people in the Upper Valley who are supporting Clinton. Within six months of her coming to power, we will be embroiled in all-out war in Syria. Ask yourself after 15 years of illegal wars this month — is that what I want for our country?
Donlon Wade Canaan
History Argues Against Trump
The biggest reason I can’t vote for Donald Trump is that I am a student of history.
Presidents in the modern era, despite their best intentions, don’t get much of a chance to concentrate on domestic programs. LBJ was able to get the Civil Rights Act passed, but got mired in Vietnam; George W. Bush had hardly any time in office before 9/11 occurred, and the rest of his presidency was spent dealing with that crisis; and President Obama got the Affordable Care Act passed, but the lion’s share of his presidency was taken up with two inherited wars as well as the current Syria situation.
We need a president with actual governing experience, folks. Even those who say, “Well, President Reagan was an actor,” are forgetting that he was also governor of California for four years.
We can’t stop Trump from being Trump. But we can stop him from being the president.
Barry Wenig Lebanon
I am incredibly disappointed in the negative attacks from Maggie Hassan calling Kelly Ayotte “anti-woman.” For starters, Ayotte is a mom from Nashua who has dedicated her career to fighting for women. She’s introduced bipartisan legislation to end discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace and she’s got a ton of ideas to make life easier for working families like hers and mine. She wrote an equal-pay bill based on a successful bipartisan New Hampshire law. She knows the best ideas come from people back home and I’m glad to see she’s taking our priorities to the Senate.
Unfortunately, Maggie Hassan and her Washington, D.C., Democratic allies are more interested in pitting women against each other for political gain than working to protect our interests. I wish Hassan would explain her positive vision for New Hampshire instead of trying to tear down another female leader.
Karen M. Cervantes Lebanon
The writer is a New Hampshire Republican State Committee member and holds local and regional party posts.