Larry Prenger
Centertown
Dear Editor:
Have you noticed how energy companies have begun rebranding themselves with television and print ads? They want us to see that our air and water are cleaner than they’ve ever been before and that we lead the world in making our environment better and healthier thanks to them. They don’t mention that it is true because they sell their dirtier products to countries who can’t afford to worry about the environment yet.
In the meantime, they continue to pollute our country as they always have. They still have oil spills and under-report how much oil is involved. They still have refinery accidents due to poor maintenance. Their pipelines leak what they consider an acceptable amount. They pollute ground water with dangerous fracking chemicals. After all of this and much more, energy companies want us to appreciate how much they do for us.
The Fuel Freedom Foundation estimates the real cost of a gallon of gasoline at $6.13. That includes the $2.25 at the pump, 98 cents to defend oil interests around the world, $1.73 in health care costs, 89 cents for climate change problems, and the 27 cents that our government gives them in subsidies. It is time to start looking for an alternative to fossil fuels. It is also time to start making the energy companies pick up some of these costs instead of us customers paying for all of them.
I don’t write these letters because I think I’m smarter than all of you. I do it because I, as others are, am worried about my grandchildren. Citizens Climate Lobby offers a way to push those companies and our country in the direction of clean alternate sources of energy. Spend a few minutes learning how you can help.