Monday letters: Renewable energy in Colorado, Glenwood grocery stores, Israel-Palestine war, Waller for Garfield County Commissioner - Glenwood Springs Post Independent

Monday letters: Renewable energy in Colorado, Glenwood grocery stores, Israel-Palestine war, Waller for Garfield County Commissioner | PostIndependent.com

Monday letters: Renewable energy in Colorado, Glenwood grocery stores, Israel-Palestine war, Waller for Garfield County Commissioner

This is how Colorado should be getting its energy…

Recently, the Glenwood and Aspen utilities filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, asking to avoid charges for Xcel Energy’s new power lines which are planned to increase wind and solar power in Colorado. I think the cities have been getting a sweet deal, procuring low-tax power from Nebraska, while renting long powerline capacity from Xcel. They claim to be “100% renewable,” but this is not strictly true. Really, their electricity is “net zero” by using “credits” from over-generated power when it’s windy there to “offset” coal and gas backup when the weather is calm.

For actual high fractions of renewable energy, a mix of wind and solar and energy storage is needed, along with strategic transmission. With these come added costs while fossil fuel backup diminishes. Xcel’s new lines will benefit the whole state, and the climate, by accessing one of the best spots in the U.S. for combined wind and solar. If the local cities don’t want to contribute, maybe they should be billed for the costs to supply truly “100% renewable” power over the last few years. More constructively, they can smooth their demand and utilize less-remote resources. One not-so-modest concept:

Our region’s terrain is difficult for big solar and wind. But it is amenable to closed-loop pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), the efficient energy storage technology with the least need for high-tech imported components and an almost indefinite lifetime. Water does evaporate from the little reservoirs, but the combination of wind and solar and storage allows the closure of coal plants, which evaporate far more.

Colorado has two old PHES loop systems currently buffering variable renewable generation, one tucked above Georgetown and the other utilizing the forebay above Twin Lakes. Years ago, electrical engineers from CU identified two locations which would recirculate water between upper ponds on the Roan Plateau and lower ones near power lines by Rifle and Parachute. A facility here would pay substantial property taxes to GarCo, offsetting future reductions in oil and gas revenue.

Fred Porter, Carbondale

Glenwood Springs needs more grocery stories

Why in the world does a city the size of Glenwood Springs have only one grocery store? I just read in a nationwide survey Kroger was voted the worst grocery store chain in the country. Their price gouging that started during the pandemic has carried on even after their lame excuses of supply issues have been resolved. No competition in any business is bad for the consumer. Give another grocery store incentives to open a store in Glenwood.

Dean Wager, Basalt

We have a moral obligation to demand an end to the Israel-Palestine war

Israel’s war in Gaza has become morally intolerable. All people of good conscience should speak up and demand an immediate end to it.

The latest atrocity this week lays bare the brutality and inhumanity. On Thursday, Israeli troops indiscriminately opened fire on desperate Palestinians swarming a food aid truck. These people were driven by starvation due to Israel’s relentless bombing and its near-total blockade of humanitarian aid these past four months. Israel said its troops fired on those who “posed a threat.”

As I write this, reports say 100 died and 700 were injured in the massacre. But like the 30,000 who are reported to have died from Israeli bombing to date — most of them women and children — the actual number is probably higher.

I don’t know whether this meets the official definition of “genocide,” but it certainly looks like ethnic cleansing to me. As such, we have a moral obligation to stop it.

The United States is the only country on earth that has the leverage to broker a resolution. As citizens, our best way to influence this crisis is to urge our elected representatives — the president, our senators and, yes, our local city councils — to publicly demand a ceasefire.

That is why I was heartened by the Glenwood Springs council’s passage of a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Would that every elected body had such moral clarity and courage.

And I say shame on those who continue to support Israel’s actions while two million innocent Gazans are herded into an ever-shrinking corner of their territory where they face starvation and death. Shame on those so-called religious leaders who care more about Israeli lives than Palestinian ones, and who confuse basic human decency with antisemitism.

They are on the wrong side of history.

Dave Reed, Carbondale

Being Garfield County Commissioner is Caleb Waller’s next adventure

I have never met anyone in my life that cares more about people than my husband Caleb Waller (candidate for Garfield County Commissioner). It does not matter who you are or where you stand, just that you are a human being. I think some people may not know what to do with him. He has a crazy amount of energy and an incredible amount of passion to do the right thing. His only fault might be that he probably cares too much!

Our personalities are very different, You will not see me out there networking and being the life of the party, but I am very much involved.

We got married very young and have had an amazing journey of having seven children while journeying the world. It was quite an adventure and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else. From working in the vineyards of Israel, to leading thousands of people on tours in Judea and Samaria. From traveling the globe doing speaking events, to settling down and being small business owners of a little resort nestled on the banks of the Colorado River. I would say this current venture into politics has no less thrills and is what Caleb was born to do.

Neither Caleb nor I grew up in this area but we’ve felt welcome and it’s the first place we have called home.

What we have learned since moving here is that people are tired of division. While we have some strong beliefs for our own for our family, we are interested in hearing other people’s stories and what is important to them.

Our motto is, if you are unhappy with what you are seeing then do something about it. Thats what has led our family down the path of helping out in our community wherever we have been able to. Whether that is working the elections, walking in the parade or helping other community members by providing food or assisting with house renovations. While some are not hopeful for the future; Caleb and I are very excited to spearhead the next generation of world changers to rise up and take personal responsibility for the community we love.

Kendra Waller, Silt
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