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Morse, thank you from West Springfield

May 1, 2019 |

Morse, thank you from West Springfield In Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Overstory,” a character cites an old proverb that inquires as to the optimal time to plant a tree. The tongue-in-cheek response, as so many of us can appreciate, is “20 years ago.” The next best time, as the proverb continues, is “Now.” We cannot go back in time to modify our nation’s past massive energy investments that seemed to make sense then. It is startlingly clear, however, that investments in green energy practices and policies must be redirected and implemented NOW.

Mayor Alex Morse has taken a bold and courageous stand in opposing Columbia Gas’ plans to pipe more gas into Holyoke, a city that has garnered the nation’s attention for its development and implementation of cutting edge energy sources to meet energy needs in its homes, businesses, and institutions. We have relied on fossil fuels long enough. Leaders like Alex Morse know we must transition now to energy sources that:

1. Do not contribute to climate change;

2. Do not pose significant public health dangers, such as gas leaks and gas explosions that have taken lives, damaged the welfare of communities, and destroyed residences and business in the Merrimack Valley, Springfield, and Durham, NC.; and

3. Do not rake in financial gains from ratepayers to benefit for-profit energy corporations and their stockholders. The term “natural” gas is a misnomer. The pipes carry a dangerous percentage of fracked gas, which is methane as well as radon and other carcinogenic compounds that naturally occur in Marcellus Shale gas. When they leak, or are part of the emissions from gas cooktops without the use of ventilating fans, the air we breathe is transformed into hazardous pollution.

Climate change should not be a debatable topic; it is real, and it affects our daily lives. As individuals, we can make conservation a goal in our residences and promote green energy policies in the workplace and in our communities. Elected officials will earn our votes as well as our admiration and support by promoting “green” policies that reflect their understanding of the challenge we face.

We don’t have the luxury of considering what we might have done decades ago, like the tree that was not planted when it should have been. It cannot be said that this will be an easy transformation, but it is the essential path forward. Since we seemingly missed the opportunity “twenty years ago,” the time to embrace the challenge is now. As Mayor Morse said in his Earth Day statement, “We cannot postpone a day longer.”

J. Hill, West Springfield

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