Herald letters promote nuclear energy and a career event sponsored by Soroptimists | Opinion

Small reactors beat wind turbines

Why settle for beans when you can have steak for less? The real problem with wind production is that it pales in comparison to the new small modular nuclear power plants. One reactor about the size of a double-wide trailer could power Moses Lake for decades on the same fuel. The new plants are robust, derived from the same tech the Navy uses. They’ve traveled the world, surviving the worst the sea can throw at them. They work in all weather, rain or shine, zero carbon. Grid ready? Somebody needs to get the word out.

Oh, the one problem I’m not seeing in the Tri-City Herald is how the vast blades of turbines are choking landfills. The blades are built so well, they basically do not rot, nor can they be recycled. Somebody in Benton County needs to ask what they plan to dispose of the blades when our grit is done with them.

Matthew Ruane, Richland

Newhouse votes to increase deficit

At a time when the U.S national debt reached $31 trillion, one of the first votes and top priorities of the now Republican-led House of Representatives was on a bill, H.R. 23, that would increase the federal deficit by $114 billion over the next 10 years per the Congressional Budget Office!

The supposed party of fiscal conservatism passed H.R. 23 and its deficit increase along party lines with not a single Republican voting against it, including, you guessed it, our very own 4th Congressional District Representative, Dan Newhouse.

The Inflation Reduction Act passed by the previous Congress and signed into law by President Biden provided $80 billion to the IRS and H.R. 23 passed by the House with no Democrats voting in favor would strip away $72 billion of that funding. That is, not only would the law increase the deficit, it also would make it harder for the IRS to catch tax cheats.

While the vast majority of us who earn a paycheck pay our tax bill each year, the wealthy and large corporations are able to skirt the rules, thanks to an underfunded IRS courtesy of the House Republicans.

Cory Miller, Kennewick

Soroptimist event set for teen girls

Soroptimist International of Three Rivers (SI3R) and Soroptimist International of Pasco-Kennewick (SIPK) are presenting “Dream It Be It” on Saturday, March 11, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at Educational Services District (ESD) 123, 3924 W. Court St. in Pasco.

“Dream It Be It” is a free career support event for high school girls in grades 9 through 12. This fun program provides girls with access to career education, professional role models and the resources to live their dreams. The event includes lunch and snacks for the participants. SI3R and SIPK are part of Soroptimist International of the Americas. They are nonprofit service organizations of women with a passion for investing in dreams and empowering local women and girls to achieve their goals. Pre-registration for this free “Dream It Be It” event is required and the deadline to register is Feb. 24. To request a registration packet, please email: dibi.tri.cities@gmail.com

Jann Frye

Dream It Be It Registration Team

Soroptimist International of Three Rivers

Soroptimist International of Pasco-Kennewick

Fentanyl pills are concern to her

I have noticed recently that drugs have become increasingly worse the past few years in the Tri-Cities, mainly in Kennewick and Pasco. I recently saw a news report about 15,000 fentanyl pills found in a Kennewick home, and I also read that people with candy-colored fentanyl were trying to hand it out to children on Halloween. This concerns me. Our city is fairly small and already a large portion of drugs have become an issue. I feel as though the police need to become more involved with the issue of drugs so it doesn’t become an overwhelming problem.

Ava Ross, Richland