Don’t use clean energy
funds for storage hub
Recent news reports tout an ethane storage hub for the plastics industry as a bonanza for West Virginia, but consistently refuse to even mention the elephant in the room.
Due to the climate crisis, we should be phasing out use of fossil fuels due to their emissions of greenhouse gases. Investments in fossil fuel facilities are a step in the wrong direction. The failure to acknowledge the reality of climate change suggests that these projects will be bankrupt before they ever turn a profit.
To make matters worse, the U.S. Department of Energy is considering a multi-billion dollar loan guarantee for the storage hub, and proposes to tap funds dedicated by Congress for clean energy. Such an action is a blatant contradiction of federal law, yet apparently has support from Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore-Capito. Regardless of whether one supports a storage hub, I hope everyone would agree that it is not a clean energy facility.
The very limited federal funds available for clean energy should be invested in projects that, in the words of the statute, “avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.”
We call upon Capito and Manchin to uphold the rule of law, and reconsider their support for this loan.
James Kotcon
West Virginia Sierra Club
Morgantown
Boundary adjustments
just another money grab
It is obvious that Morgantown’s new “minor” boundary adjustment is nothing more than a “money grab” designed to keep a sinking city afloat after decades of poor decisions.
The mayor casually regards all of us living and working outside of the city as “individuals who are reaping the benefits without paying their fair share.” Really, Mr. Mayor? You’re right. Who wouldn’t want to rely on Republic’s stellar trash services. Who in their right mind could resist the privilege of a $3 weekly user fee as well as a 1% increase in sales tax?
Other benefits — better police service? Better fire protection? Better insurance rates? Beautiful blue and yellow curbs? All of this is doubtful and a delusional smoke screen to grab more money.
Also, why would you not include Mylan Pharmaceuticals to be part of your master plan? Afraid they might pack up and leave? That’s possible, but I’d give them a fair shake like the rest of us. Maybe they would like to benefit from all the imaginary advantages the city has to offer.
They are so close you can’t hit a pothole along W.Va. 705 and not splash their building. Who knows, they might stay. As for me, not only do I wish to remain out of the city of Morgantown, I feel sorry for those already in it.
One more thought, if you are successful and are looking for a suitable location for the city’s new $5.5 million fire/police station, how about building it on one of the soon to be vacant car dealership lots on the Mileground?
Carmen Gutta Jr.
Morgantown
‘No-strike’ legislation
just more of the same
State Sen. Charles Trump’s. R-Morgan, blaming the past two teacher walkouts as interfering with the ability of children to get an education should be directed at himself and those slyly supporting the legislation they intend to force (dictate) upon the teachers and citizenry of West Virginia. And they got paid extra with the help of Gov. Jim Justice, who also cheated the voters electing him by jumping immediately to the same political party supporting Sen. Trump.
No one should be forced to not be able to defend themselves and their vocations by biased “no-strike” legislation. It also leaves the prospect of future graduates to have nothing to look forward to in vocations ruled by such prejudicial and dictatorial legislating.
Just Trump’s attitude of control instead of genuine representation infers to me any privately run charter schooling would definitely be non-union affiliated and those employed would have no rights beyond what management declared. This is the true threat to real education in a free society where forced conspiracy can alter the moral and intellectual minds of those being educated.
We do not need charter schools, nor radically educated students by systems not regulated for the public good of we the people.
Delmar Hagedorn Jr.
Morgantown
