To the editor:
In response to the letter about clean energy/property rights, let’s be practical and realistic. In Leelanau County, we have cold winters, so affordable home heating is critical. Most homes are heated by propane, natural gas, heating oil or wood. The cost of replacing those systems is prohibitive for just about everyone. How do you replace a forced air heating or steam system with an electric system at a cost anyone can afford? You cannot. These systems are not interchangeable, and converting our homes to these sources could take decades. So let’s be practical.
If you do have solar panels or wind generation, these are intermittent sources, meaning the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow 24/7. You need battery storage for times when these sources are not available, otherwise you have no power. How much does that cost? We are not talking about a few car batteries here. So let’s be realistic.
Last year US greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3% according to federal reports. China’s emissions grew by 10%. China emits more than double the greenhouse gases as the US, and has about 250 new coal power plants under construction. We could be spending billions, even trillions in the US, but it will all be offset by China’s increases. So let’s look at the facts and be realistic.
Susan Hosking Northport
