McKinley misleads on clean energy claims
I read with great astonishment The Dominion Post article (DP-07-11-21) based on an interview with Rep. David McKinley; he can obfuscate and twist the truth about clean energy and infrastructure with the best of the global warming deniers.
For instance, he claims that replacing the power from the Amos Power Plant in Putnam County with windmills would take twice the land mass of Monongalia County. He further raises the specter of imminent domain to obtain the land and sick African children digging through dirt to find rare earth elements for batteries.
This is an example of the hasty generalization fallacy, which your reporter did not challenge; in this case McKinley asserts that since such a large land mass is needed to replace coal-generated electricity with wind power (if his numbers are even correct), alternative energy is too expensive and unobtainable. Of course, we also have solar, geothermal, hydropower, tidal power and energy conservation in the alternative energy toolbox.
If we apply this toolbox to a local energy-thirsty site — the University Town Centre — we see the truth differs from the McKinley fallacy. Imagine geothermal to bring down the costs of heating and cooling stores; envisage solar panels on all the rooftops and solar fields over the parking lots; and think of windmills on appropriate parts of the location. In this future, the site produces its own power, puts energy back into the grid and loses less electricity in transmission.
In contrast, McKinley is still pushing carbon capture, which requires significant extra energy, and experts agree could double the cost of electricity. By all means, continue research, but let’s not bet our future on it. Running out the clock, however, is the game plan of McKinley and the carbon-loving crowd, as if we were watching a football game. Congressman, the stakes are much higher: the future of our children and the planet.
John P. Lambertson
Morgantown
Morgantown went above and beyond for July 4th
I was so proud to be with my family in Morgantown July 4 for the fireworks at the Hazel McQuain Amphitheater! The new facility is amazing and very user-friendly. The huge crowd had a happy vibe and the fireworks display was the most stupendous I’ve ever seen! Looking good, Morgantown!
Charlene Pyles
Independence
Seniors miss Monday night bingo in Osage
I am a senior citizen and have a husband who is handicapped. One of the few things I and many other seniors looked forward to was Monday night bingo sponsored by the Granville Fire Department at their Event Center on Osage Road.
All the workers and volunteers were wonderful and did such a great job. Many, like me, enjoyed spending Monday evenings with friends. When COVID arrived, of course, bingo was canceled. We waited patiently for bingo to return. Recently, the restrictions have relaxed and most businesses are reopened.
This is not the case with our Monday night bingo. It has left a lot of us without any social outlet and has increased the depression that many of us have felt. I know this may not seem like a big thing, but for the elderly, it is a major concern. As I said before, it is the only social outlet many of us enjoyed attending. Other bingo games are too far away for seniors to travel to safely.
The Granville Fire Department did such a wonderful community service for many senior citizens for many years. I would ask the fire department to reconsider opening the Monday night bingo. I know there would be many grateful seniors who would benefit from this compassionate service.
Dotti Nemitz
Maidsville
Senior Mons welcomes new exec, Lisa Martin
I would like to welcome Lisa Martin, the new executive director at Senior Mons.
Lisa was formerly with the Red Cross and has had her own business. Lisa is not new to helping people. I met Lisa last Friday, and we talked about seniors and our center. Lisa assured me that she would do all she can for our seniors in our center. We talked about her training, and we agreed she will have a lot to learn. Lisa is very confident that her training will go well.
Lisa is a people-person and will be working with all of us seniors to get our center in full operation and will take any suggestions that the seniors have to offer her. I feel Lisa is an excellent choice for the job and that she will have our center back to full functions. Lisa has some good ideas and is anxious to share them with our seniors.
We will be happy to be able to have all of our activities back to enjoy. On Fridays at 10 a.m., bingo will be starting for the seniors to enjoy. Soon the other activities will start. We welcome all seniors at our center. Soon our center will be filled with seniors and many new activities.
When you see Lisa at the center, introduce yourself and welcome her. I want to see the center filled with all of our members and new members, and all activities returning very soon.
Carol Ann Miller
Morgantown
Issues on state road damage private property
I live on the Brandonville Pike and the state road put really deep ditches along my yard.
They didn’t seem to know how to make a straight ditch, then they were supposed to straighten up the ditch and put large gravel in the ditches, so it wouldn’t close up the culvert again. But they never put any gravel in the ditches either. I hired a man to keep the culvert open for a long time, but the state road didn’t do their part of bringing gravel.
Also, a lot of gravel has run down in my yard and my rental property’s yard, too. It’s the state road’s responsibility to get the gravel out of the yards.
I have had two windows broken from the gravel along the road where the trucks run and throw the gravel. Not the truckers’ fault — there’s too much gravel along the road. I have been in the process for a couple of years trying to get something accomplished, but the state road won’t do anything. State road doesn’t mow along the roads on the pike, either.
I get all the water from the opposite side of my road, because they need a ditch all the way up the hillside so some of the water can run down the other side too. My yard is always wet. They won’t make a ditch on the other side of the road. If they did, then I wouldn’t get all of the water.
State road keeps promising but never does anything. It’s a mess.
Ida Mae Fike
Bruceton Mills
