Dear Editor,
Regressive policies are all the rage in the Trump administration, but the latest news from Washington regarding the US’ 700$ million investment in coal just about takes the cake. The year is 2026; solar power is the cheapest form of electricity generation, and also least subject to geopolitical interference. The year is 2026; offshore and onshore wind generate strikingly higher amounts of electricity than ever before, and study after study demonstrates safety to humans and animals. The year is 2026; geothermal is being explored, nuclear is being revived, and batteries are booming.
Why then does the Trump administration insist on taking us back to the 1800s? Why are we still supporting coal, an industry rife with cen-
turies-long safety concerns and decades worth of knowledge about the harmful planetary and human health related effects of burning it?
This investment is blatantly out of step with what the average American is calling for. Coal is among the most expensive sources of energy now, costly to mine and transport and costly to maintain aging and often broken coal-burning facilities. When Americans are feeling financially strapped, when we’re being threatened in all seasons with increasing natural disasters thanks to climate change, the Trump administration has your (nonsensical) answer – just burn more coal, and your tax dollars along with it.
Sincerely, Nathan Dombeck Janesville, WI