Another KFTC letter to the editor

Here is letter to the editor by a KFTC member that was published in today's Lexington Herald-Leader.

Coal bad for future 

Thanks to the Herald-Leader for its Aug. 29 "Brave dissent" editorial honoring the 11 legislators who voted against the Peabody Energy deal. It soothed me to know that at least some lawmakers can resist corporate seduction.

Maybe House Speaker Jody Richards, whose commentary dominated the oped page that day, doesn't understand that coal will never provide clean energy. The environmental horror perpetrated on the land by mining, especially mountaintop-removal mining, virtually negates this possibility even if we do eventually master large-scale carbon dioxide sequestration technology, a questionable proposition at best.

Clever strategists affixed authentic green-energy policy issues to the slimy deal, increasing its appeal. It oozed rapidly through, and legislators applauded themselves. How unwise to hold hostage real and necessary proposals to shady deals.

Richards certainly is working diligently to keep us a "coal dependent region." He uses the word hallowed in reference to the planet, but it appears that he and his cohorts do not find sacred the preservation of our environment or our communities.

Their most hallowed task is to please corporate coal. For this, they're willing to lay out big money and jeopardize our future.

Thanks again to the 11 who stood tall. Shame upon the rest of them.

Suzanne Dansereau
Manchester

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