West Virginia could be a leader in green energy
Re: “West Virginia is ground zero in the climate change battle,” Jan. 4
Steven Allen Adams’ article accurately highlights the plight of the coal industry in West Virginia. However, it fails to realize this plight as a wonderful potential opportunity for economic growth. Sen. Robert Byrd, who has opposed environmental restrictions in the past, has taken a step in the other direction. Rather than fight the growing support for environmental legislation, Byrd is urging West Virginians to “anticipate change and adapt to it.” West Virginia has a $3.5 billion coal industry; many of their coal plants could attract investments from carbon sequestration technology companies. Hydroelectric power from the Kanawha and Ohio rivers could be harnessed as well. A cap-and-trade bill would increase costs for the coal industry, but by the same token, the costs of alternative energy solutions would become more viable and create new jobs. West Virginia currently has the second-to-worst state economy in the nation. Rather than continue to fight against change, it could be a leader in the green movement and improve the standard of living for all West Virginians.
Alex Lopatka
Silver Spring
Where is the private funding to keep OSP going?
Re: “Where is the outrage over scholarship program’s demise? Jan. 12
As a graduate of Anacostia High School, Class of 1966, I read with interest Barbara Hollingsworth’s article on D.C.’s Opportunity Scholarship Program. She is correct – the Democrats are more interested in NEA campaign contributions than they are about D.C. schoolchildren getting a decent education. Perhaps Virginia Walden Ford could solicit banking industry giants like Citicorp, Bank of America, Chase, etc. to make substantial contributions to fully fund the scholarship program for the next decade and beyond. That would amount to a paltry sum when compared to bank executive bonuses! Someone could approach the Bill Gates Foundation, since Gates supposedly has a huge interest in improving education. Or how about the Abe Polin family?
Walter D. Graham, III
Washington
Underwear bomber should have been blocked from flight
While the lax airport screening on Christmas Day certainly played a part in a lunatic being able to get on board a plane with explosives in his underwear, in my mind the crucial question remains why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was on the plane in the first place. He was purchasing a one-way ticket costing over $2,000 with cash and no luggage. He should have been taken into custody at the ticket counter.
D. Pazourek
Sparks, MD
