Mattoon letter: Energy choices

We make careful choices about the way we energize our bodies — nutritionally beneficial foods while trying to limit our consumption of unhealthy foods that damage physical health. Yet when it comes to energizing our cities, we don’t seem to value the same principles.

We continue to rely on coal and other dirty fuels, which present tremendous environmental and health consequences for our communities, much like choosing a food with no nutritional value and negative health impacts. Instead, we could select a nutritionally dense food that has multiple positive externalities, like the clean energy that reduces our carbon footprint and grows our local economy.

Perhaps we don’t feel empowered to influence decisions about our energy sources. After all, we just switch on the lights.

On Thursday residents of Idaho will be given the chance to speak up forcefully for their energy choices. A public hearing will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the Seventh Power Plan at the Red Lion Downtowner. This plan sets energy targets for the region, promoting energy efficiency and discouraging natural gas development, and demonstrates a place for renewable energies in our region’s future. So join us in supporting an energy future that promotes the health of Idaho.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Mattoon letter: Energy choices."