Letter: Renewable energy has public support

In Tim Phelps’ Jan 25 Viewpoint on clean energy [A conservative case for clean energy], I echo his enthusiasm on NIPSCO’s future renewable energy plans that will save their customers billions in the coming decades, since wind and solar are now the cheapest energy form, even including storage costs. The recent introduction of a new bill in Congress, The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, would help spur other utilities and power producers to follow their lead. The bill charges a fee on carbon emissions with the fees returned in total to the public. So Hoosiers serviced by ambitious renewable energy utilities would not only save money on their power bill, they could get a carbon-fee refund as well.

There are huge other benefits that come with the cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from renewable energy. Recent polling shows the public growing ever more concerned about climate disasters and the numerous health and economic issues that carbon emissions bring. Even polar vortexes that bring life-threatening winter weather are affected by our changing climate. Recent testimony by the head of our Intelligence Agencies also warns of the growing national security threats from our changing climate. Economically, the path has never been clearer, renewable energy needs to be at the forefront of our energy decisions and the many other benefits make it even more compelling.

Greg Kempf