My approach to my latest effort with the Washington Post was to strip it down as short as possible. It worked! I believe it will be in the print edition tomorrow morning. How does it look, @Charlotte Ward ?
Chris Wiegard, Virginia
Opinion | GOP attacks on clean energy are the opposite of what the U.S. needs - The Washington Post
text version-
Dear Editor-
Yes, climate change is both a threat and an opportunity. No, our nation cannot economically survive as an island of fossil fuel devotion in a changing world. China would be the economic beneficiary of that retreat.
It is vital for Congress to preserve the clean energy tax credits that counterbalance our continued subsidies to fossil fuels. It is also vital for Congress to undertake permitting reform! Clean energy is not just being suppressed by Trump executive orders; it is also being suppressed by delays of up to a decade on the construction of new electrical lines to transmit clean energy.
Failure of imagination can have serious consequences. Our great grandchildren will someday read the history of the race to clean energy of the early 21st century. I hope that those descendants will enjoy a livable world. That will only happen if we refrain from walking backwards on climate and energy.
@Chris Wiegard
Your letters are always great. I shared this one on my weekly chapter email to try to get more people in our area to write letters. We used to send about 1 a week from our chapter and for the past year I just cant get anyone to do this. All the people who liked to write moved or just lost their drive. Maybe your letter will spark some writing energy.
@Andrea De Zubiria thanks for your kind words! Maybe share with the members a news article in a newspaper that they could reply to with an LTE? Maybe this one in the San Francisco Chronicle? Read the Trump administration proposal that would upend NOAA
@Andrea De Zubiria or this is the same article but no paywall 'Five-alarm fire': Read the Trump proposal that could decimate climate research
@Chris Wiegard
I dont know about my chapter but you inspired me and I whipped this one up. Not super witty or anything but maybe will get published :
Earth Day is celebrated all over the world in April. This year's theme is "Our Planet, Our Power" to recognize the need to deploy more renewable energy to power our cars, homes and businesses. Using renewable energy cleans up our air and stops the heating of the planet caused by burning coal, oil, and gas.
Washington is pulling us away from renewable energy and the progress being made towards a healthier future for our kids and grandkids. Some local Republican Members of Congress have spoken up to protect the clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. David Valadao (R-22) and Vince Fong (R-20) should be applauded for rising above the partisan divide to try to help people in their districts.
The clean energy tax credits provide 50% of the reductions in dirty emissions from the Inflation Reduction Act. And even though it was originally passed by Democrats, this 2022 law is bringing millions of dollars into our Valley to fund jobs, infrastructure and innovation.
If you live in a Republican district, honor Earth Day by calling or emailing your Member of Congress and tell them you support the clean energy tax credits! You can find out who represents you at House.gov.
@Andrea De Zubiria you go girl! Concise, and with a good ask. Best wishes to get published.
@Andrea De Zubiria, if you find your chapter is hitting a wall with LTEs, it's always an option to pivot to more earned media efforts. Would any folks in your chapter be interested in building a local media list and reaching out to those journalists to build relationships? That lays the groundwork for your chapter to be quoted in news stories or featured on TV / radio when there are environmental stories, or even featured for your own activities when a good opportunity arises. Sometimes that can be more motivating / exciting for folks.
Happy to chat more if you'd like to explore putting more emphasis here!
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