Thank for getting at least some things right in your July 13 editorial. “Clean energy comes with a high price.” Actually no, it’s competitive with dirty energy, but it does come with a price, like everything else.
You did get right the basic facts. Under the new contract, every citizen of Lowell will save around $6 on each month’s electricity bill while at the same time reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. That’s a win-win indeed, both for ratepayers, who were getting hurt under the old contract, and for everyone’s children, most of whom understand that, in fact, we really do face a world of climate chaos. We’re sorry that you find that fact “ominous.”
What is puzzling though, is when you say that the public had no say in this vote, since this is plainly not true. A well-publicized public forum was held on the matter at LTC. It was discussed at length on WKAT, on Cambodian Khmer TV and elsewhere. Of course, the City Council discussed it at several subcommittee meetings and regular sessions.
You did report my quote accurately: “This is not about price, it’s about living up to our responsibilities to the future of life on this planet.” Thanks. It’s not about the price of electricity, it’s about the price of our future.
We agree wholeheartedly with you, as you say in your conclusion that “Clean energy comes at a price, and those two factors must be weighed dispassionately when decisions such as this are mare.” That’s exactly what happened.
Stephen Malagodi
Lowell