PNNL job cuts will have widespread impacts on everyone in the Tri-Cities | Opinon

Effects of job cuts will harm all of us

I already knew most of the information in the article ‘Tri-Cities’ largest single employer asks workers to volunteer for layoffs,’ as much of my friend group works at PNNL. The ripple effects of the funding cuts go so much deeper, though. Those who are laid off from PNNL will need to leave the Tri-Cities to find work. This exodus will amount to a loss of about $100 million dollars of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for the Tri-Cities. This translates to less revenue for local businesses and for the taxes that support our schools, libraries, roads and other public works. Additionally, since the majority of the projects affected focused on improving U.S. energy efficiency, the entire country will be set back on energy developments. Our grid systems can barely support current energy demands, particularly during extreme heat/cold events. This will only worsen as AI and other data centers continue to expand and consume more and more energy. We will pay for these cuts through our energy bills, which are expected to increase by 10%. In short, the funding cuts and priorities being pushed through by President Trump (and the rest of the Republican party) are bad for the U.S., and they’re especially bad for us in Tri-Cities.

Rachel Serkownek, Pasco

She’s not ready to celebrate dams

I saw the opinion article saying 50 years of dams on the snake river is worth celebrating. I didn’t even read the whole thing because I care about my sanity. But I know pretty much what it said. The only saving grace is that it was labeled as an opinion article. If the dams had never existed, we’d still be facing a resource crisis. We might still see lower numbers of salmon than historic runs, but God only knows what the economy would look like with intact salmon and sturgeon habitat. We traded the greatest salmon runs on the planet for electricity, and no one (with a brain) can say with certainty that it was worth it. Renewable energy is great because it won’t easily run out, Green because it’s sustainable and minimizes environmental damage. Dams damage stream ecosystems and kill fish. Full Stop. Hydroelectric is renewable, it is not green. Full stop. There are excellent arguments to saying we should keep the dams. Should I now start calling people who want to keep them no matter what, “activists?” Because I want some removed? Anyhow, I’m not gonna celebrate 50 years of killing fish. Anna Chase, M.Sc. Environmental Science, Moscow, Idaho

Congress must act to stop Putin

Dear Mr. Newhouse: Our President acts like a child sprinting to an ice cream truck whenever Putin suggests another talk. But the Russian translation for “talk” is “delay.” America now looks so weak! When we talk-talk-talk, Putin bombs, bombs, bombs More civilians die. More Civilians! President Trump’s passive be-my-friend-and-let’s-talk approach has only encouraged more drone and missile murders! In fact, nightly attacks on civilians have double since he took office! Talks are not helping!

Please, you and your congressional colleagues: Do something! Stop hiding behind President Trump. He obviously has some kind of weakness with Putin. It’s up to you! 1. Take Putin’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine’s weapons and rebuilding. 2. Pressure Russia to return all the kidnapped Ukrainian children. 3. Increase arms assistance. 4. Increase sanctions. Support Ukraine! Not Putin! Thanks!

Mark Douglass, Kennewick