The debate on clean energy: should we rethink hydroelectric power on the Snake River? | Opinion
‘Clean’ energy not exactly clear-cut
It seems to me there is no such thing as clean energy. Hydroelectric dams give cheap energy that was thought to be environmentally clean until the dams harmed fish populations. Nuclear power is often considered clean, yet it produces possibly the most permanent form of waste. There is no guarantee that breaching dams would be better for the environment as a whole.
I understand why there is concern over fish being harmed by the dams, but the dams do produce a large amount of affordable and renewable energy. Replacing dams with wind or solar power would not only be expensive but also could cause unforeseen harm. Replacing dams with fossil fuel power would increase carbon emissions. Either way, there would most likely be other environmental harm as a side effect of dam removal.
Fish are still valuable to the environment, however. They should be saved if possible. I know that fish ladders have had limited success at protecting fish. However, I still think we should look for alternative fish-saving methods before resorting to replacing dams with alternative power sources. While dams aren’t perfect, they seem better than the alternatives.
Micah Holm, Kennewick
Climate change extinctions coming
By causing global warming, forest fires, sea level rise, ocean acidification, drought, floods and extreme storms, fossil fuels are killing people and wildlife. The folks who are against small nuclear reactors, a gigantic solar farm in Benton County, or hundreds of wind turbines on the Horse Heaven Hills are shortsighted. Our Navy has safe nuclear reactors in our submarines and other ships. Solar panels can be high enough for vegetation and wildlife beneath them. Cattle graze and wheat grows under wind turbines, providing revenue to the landowners.
Published in Science (one of the world’s most reputable journals) on Dec. 5, the research (funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation) determined: “We can expect, with increased certainty, that rising temperatures will lead to an increasing number of extinctions, with the highest emission scenario leading to extinction of nearly a third of the Earth species.”
Many more people are killed from the burning of fossil fuels than have ever died from nuclear accidents or wastes. Many more birds are killed by cats than by wind turbines. If you are concerned about global climate change, put solar panels on your roof and buy a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Bob Carson, Walla Walla
Free college for all makes sense
“… I love the poorly educated …,” Donald Trump once said. In return, they re-elected him.
Surveys and polls all agree: the more college education, the less likely one is to have voted for Trump.
Is this because colleges teach their students to vote for Democrats?
Or is it because lack of exposure to higher education creates a vacuum that is more easily filled with disinformation, simplistic solutions and fear?
Lies thrive in ignorance.
Presidential results are an eye-opening indictment of our nation’s public education system.
After decades of neglecting our children, teachers and schools, the chickens are coming home to roost.
This year’s military budget is $842 billion, needed partly to maintain our navy’s fleet of 11 aircraft carriers. Our last carrier cost $12.7 billion. As demonstrated in Ukraine, aircraft carriers are becoming obsolete.
The New York Times has estimated that free college education for everyone who wants one, would cost our nation $79 billion.
Seven fewer aircraft carriers, (leaving four) and everyone wanting to pursue a college education could — for free.
America’s college enrollment has been declining. Biden champions free community college and debt relief. Project 2025 eliminates the Department of Education.
New Mexico, one our poorest states, is about to make its colleges free.
All states should.
Michael Harrington, Pasco