Letters to the editor by KFTC members

This Sunday two KFTC members had letters about coal-to-liquid subsidies published in their local papers.  It is very important that our members continue writing letters to their papers.  The truth about coal-to-liquid needs to be told before the General Assembly decides to divert public money to subsidize these companies.  So if you have a few minutes, visit our coal-to-liquid pages to learn more about the issue, write up a short letter, and submit it to your local paper.

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Liquid-coal plants

Some people are proposing that Kentucky taxpayers bear the cost of $300 million in subsidies to companies to build plants that will convert coal to liquid fuels.

These plants will be expensive to build and use a lot of electricity.

Since most electricity generated in the state comes from coal-fired plants, I wonder if we need these coal-to-liquid fuel plants.

Why not eliminate the expensive middleman and use our coal-produced electricity to recharge hybrid and electric vehicles?

Doug Rigsby
Lexington

From the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

Coal-to-liquid technology not a smart investment

I'm writing in response to John Henson's opinion on progress without a fight. I'm not real good at writing, so i'll be brief.

Joe Grieshop and I don't always agree, but I admire his courage for stepping up to plate for our children of Harlan County. Hey, I know I'll take some heat for this letter, and sure I hate to lose our high school here in the Tri-Cities, but we don't have the financial base or kids to support a high school anymore (end of argument).

With that said, let me please try to make my point. Gov. Fletcher is calling a special legislative session scheduled for July 5 at the cost of some $60,000 a day for the purpose to convince our illustrious legislators to invest millions upon millions of "hard-earned" taxpayer dollars on a coal-to-liquid technology that was developed by Nazi Germany during World War II that no one can even agree worked then and nobody knows how to make it work now.

My point being, if Kentucky legislators are set on investing hard-earned taxpayer dollars, I would personally rather see it invested in the education of our children and grandchildren.

The sad part about the special-called session is that we will probably have two, maybe three, of our Harlan County representatives to vote for this snake oil project.

Carl (Buck) Shoupe
Benham, Ky