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Letter to Editor: Opposition to Gov. Snyder's Energy Plan
Author believes wind energy, not natural gas, is Michigan's energy future.
To the Editor:
Governor Snyder recently laid out his energy plan for Michigan, which called for an increase in natural gas. I strongly disagree with the Governor’s opinion that natural gas, which requires fracking, is what it best for Michigan. Instead, I believe that wind energy is what is best for Michigan’s energy future.
Devastating events such as Michigan’s floods in May, a drought throughout the summer that damaged the corn crop and a freak cold snap that decimated our tart cherries and apple crop, make it abundantly clear that Michigan needs to prioritize renewable energy.
I believe that wind energy is the best way to help curb these extreme weather events. The current wind energy production in Michigan is equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road and if wind development continues, the wind energy production would be equivalent to taking 169,000 cars off the road.
There is no denying the fact that Michigan needs a better plan for its energy future. The best plan for Michigan however is not natural gas, but wind energy. However key tax credits for wind power are set to expire at the end of the year, unless Congress votes to renew them. We thank Senator Stabenow and Senator Levin for supporting wind power and we urge them to do all they can to renew the wind tax credits—our air, our water, our crops and our future depend on it.
Rachel Koresky
Grosse Pointe Woods
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Joseph Adamski
7:31 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I worked for Marathon Oil Company in the mid-70's and well fracturing was a well-established practice even in those years. Wind energy is no more than an odditiy relative to the vast natural gas resources we havce been safely tapping for decades.
Becky
8:09 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
What happens to migratory bird corridors?
John McCandless
10:38 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Rachel,
I disagree completely. Not sure how you make an argument that weather issues would dictate energy policies.
christopher
12:20 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Agreed Becky, It's also a known fact that the wind vanes also are killing off bats at an alarming rate. If you ever look at a base of one of those towers you are sure to find many deceased bats that have flown into them. I was told that the bats "sonar" is thrown off from the wind vanes thus attracting the bats straight into them......
Mark
2:53 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Please do just the barest minimum of research before making such broad based policy statements. Wind energy is nothing more than a stop gap. Even T. Boone Pickens, who has been a big proponent for wind energy, knows that it is a small piece of the energy solution. A very small piece.
GP For Life
4:41 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Good job, Rachel! I am sure got an A+ in your 7th grade social studies class for this letter. Other than using the New York Times comma, this is a top-notch piece for a middle-schooler.
If by chance, you're not still in school and your an adult, please see me after class.
Diane Smith
9:09 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
GP:
Rachel is a GPN grad & senior @ U of M. I think your Blue Devilness may have slipped out as you picked on this Norsewoman. Maybe you had gas when you were typing your post.
Mark
9:29 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
The sophomoric content must have tipped him off.
GP For Life
8:38 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
GPN and U of M; it all comes into focus.
The letter starts off strong then heads off the cliff in the second paragraph by assuming a connection between weather events and the use of natural gas. Then you make a, what can only be described as half-hearted, attempt at making at case for wind energy.
This might have flown at GPN but at GPS this is fail.
On a side note, I honestly did think this was written by a talented middle school child, though, I understand the need for brevity in letters to the editors.
Bob Frapples
4:49 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Looks like someone was paying attention to the most recent episode of the new Tim Allen show, "Last Man Standing".
Mark
5:53 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tim Allen is still on TV?