Companies paying to surrender our energy future
Western Springs, Ill.: As global warming and its destructive effects increase, President Trump continued his denial and did not send an official delegation to the world climate conference in Belem, Brazil.
The cost of hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other climate-related disasters in the United States that each cost at least $1 billion in damages continues to escalate at a record pace. Paralleling this, levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels climbed by the largest amount on record from 2023 to 2024. A hotter planet means warmer oceans, which generate stronger hurricanes. Warmer air holds more moisture, which means heavier downpours and floods. Warmer air and drought related to climate change dry out vegetation, including agriculture, setting the stage for greater wildfires.
In most cases, solar and wind energy are cheaper than fossil fuels for the simple reason that fuel costs are zero. Ever-improving battery storage provides energy when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Solar and wind energy look even better when the costs of fossil fuels’ health-threatening pollution and damage from climate change-related extreme weather are considered.
Yet, Trump proclaims that climate change is a hoax and does everything he can to promote fossil fuels and block solar and wind energy as he and his fellow Republicans haul in millions of dollars in campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests. In contrast, China is surging to a wide lead in solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage and electric vehicles — all powerful, prestigious, job-creating and wealth-producing industries. If not for large contributions, what would U.S. energy policy look like? Richard Barsanti
Missed investment
Brooklyn: Voicer Chuck Shannon made light of my letter about mandating that AI centers be powered by wind and solar. He said they wouldn’t generate enough electricity to charge his cell phone. Meanwhile, these AI centers are robbing us blind by drawing extreme levels of energy while the public foots the bill with power outages and inflated electric rates. If these powerful companies, many of whose executives attended Trump’s inauguration, were obliged by law to draw their power from renewables instead of from the public grid, we would see lower bills. The technology of wind, solar and tidal energy has come a long way and could certainly put a huge dent in our monthly utility bills, and is certainly enough to power millions of cell phone chargers. We might consider investing in what matters instead of bitcoins and memes. Ed Temple
Thin blue line
Yonkers: It was just a matter of time before one of our gallant warriors would fall. It seems that Trump is all that stands between democracy and the anarchy that is deeply dividing the country. Soon after the Jan. 6 protests, Joe Biden ordered an immense dragnet and had an abundance of protesters jailed on trumped-up charges. Many of them were illegally incarcerated for the remainder of Biden’s term. Now is the time for Attorney General Pam Bondi to turn the tables on the violent protests against our law enforcement officers. It’s also time for her to put a muzzle on filthy-rich George Soros, who finances these movements. Time is of the essence, or there’ll be more tragedies like the death of young Sarah Beckstrom. Nicholas Maffei
Make examples of ’em
Scarsdale, N.Y.: Voicer Charles Michael Sitero has the right of it. The proper remedy is for those Democratic senators to be censured by the Senate. When I was a draftee during the Vietnam War, the guy in the next bunk went AWOL on the first night of basic training! After the Military Police caught him, they paraded him on the company street for the rest of us to see what the Army thinks of deserters. I think as much of these Democrats who try to use their prior military service to add gravitas to the obvious to sow dissension among the troops. Peter McCarthy
Bad orders, bad outcomes
Brooklyn: Voicer Charles Michael Sitero is wrong. It’s bad enough that the White House press secretary lied to America about the statement made by the Democrats, but Sitero decided to further inflame it. Did he forget about Kent State, when students were shot dead on the way to class and not a single person was held responsible? Was the order to fire on those unarmed students legal? Did you forget that history repeats itself, and the current administration has no boundaries? I’m a veteran who is ashamed of our commander in chief. Greg Ahl
Only tough on the weak
Lackawaxen, Pa.: The best that AI could come up with for the demonym was a Midwestern redneck, so that may be a clue to Voicer Earl Beal’s appreciation of the quick quips of our “always available” president. The public critique of Trump has not been of his reticence to speak, but of the content of his speech, especially when his deeds betrayed his words. After denigrating John McCain for being captured, Trump has taken every opportunity to surrender on the behalf of others — Afghanistan to the Taliban, Palestinian rights to Benjy the Butcher, large chunks of Ukraine to Vladimir Putin. The cat’s claws are those of a pussycat — except for fishing boats in international waters! John A. MacKinnon
Force the issues
Flushing: I concur with Voicer Steve Ostlund. As Thomas Friedman of The New York Times pointed out last fall, we should say to Putin: 1) We will encourage Ukraine’s membership in NATO. 2) Give Ukraine the long-range missiles it requested. 3) Impose as many sanctions as possible to cripple Russia’s economy. 4) Release all the Ukrainian children that Russia has abducted. We should not allow that amoral thug Putin to control the narrative, especially since he’s responsible for this disastrous calamity. Al Musaffi
A friendly voice
New Hyde Park, L.I.: While listening to WFAN several days ago, it was refreshing to hear Steve Somers again. I have always enjoyed his unique style and humor. For example, he would report that the Short Island Icelanders played at the Nassau Mausoleum. Apparently, this was a cameo appearance, as he retired several years ago. I sincerely hope he makes several encore visits to WFAN in the future. His wit and wisdom have been missed. John Macklin
Tacit acceptance
Manhattan: Zohran Mamdani just can’t bring himself to condemn his fellow intifada travelers. Outside the Park East Synagogue, a disgusting, vile mob brandishing Palestinian and Hamas terrorist (but never American) flags, whose keffiyeh-masked participants staged a threatening protest outside that venerable Jewish house of worship, chanted “Death to the IDF” and “Globalize the Intifada” while an Israeli organization held an event to encourage Jews to emigrate to Israel. The best criticism Mamdani’s spokesperson could come up with is that Mamdani does “not encourage” the use of the mob’s antisemitic slogans, but that Park East should not have hosted an event “in violation of international law.” What egregious chutzpah. Mamdani knows as much about international law as I know about rocket science. Ephraim Savitt
Pick a woman
Ottawa, Ontario: In the history of the United Nations, there has never been a female secretary-general. The time has come to do that with the search for the next secretary-general. I recommend a Canadian, Mélanie Joly. She was a foreign affairs minister during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration and flourished. Now under Prime Minister Mark Carney, she is minister of industry. In my opinion, she has all the qualifications and is a perfect replacement. Failing that, I also recommend former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He is recognized as a world statesman. My favorite is Shashi Tharoor of India, who lost in a straw vote back in 2007 to Ban Ki-Moon. But even the UN is saying the time has come to elect the first female secretary-general. Anant Nagpur
Stage resurrection
Camden, N.J.: The Theater District of New York is the largest storytelling venue in the world. In his heyday, Paul Robeson was monumental in stage performance in New York City and abroad. His activism manifested itself throughout the world. Likewise, through performance, today’s generation of theatergoers are witnessing similar attributes in Leslie Odum Jr. The men share the same ethnicity, but Odum’s Broadway reappearance as Aaron Burr, a Founding Father of the United States, remains compelling. Wayne E. Williams
