Time for climate change action
I am always happy to see coverage of climate and environmental issues in the Free Press, and I hope coverage of this topic will remain a high priority (“Biden selects Jennifer Granholm to be energy secretary,” Free Press, Dec. 15). It is time for action.
World leaders from over 70 countries, including President-elect Joe Biden and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, recently reaffirmed their commitment to addressing climate change. Translating these affirmations into actions requires knowledge, commitment and the support of our citizens.
Michigan is a treasure trove of priceless natural resources and wildlife that we must all strive to protect, and each of our elected officials should play an important role in promoting solutions and educating their constituents on how these solutions will benefit all of us.
The Energy Innovation Act has broad bipartisan support and is simple and effective legislation that would enact carbon dividends and put money directly into citizen’s pocketbooks. Kathy Lohr
Harrison Township
Choice between success and learning
Every high school student I know has faced an impossible problem throughout online school. They are having to choose between learning and succeeding in their classes. In the current online school situation, it is almost impossible to take the time to understand the information we are taught and get all of our work done. Many people fell behind on work in the first few months of this school year, and their grades are suffering because of it. To these students, the only option to raise their grades is to mindlessly complete their work, either by cheating online or getting answers from a friend. This leads to improved grades, but at the expense of learning.
I am concerned that unless we make major changes to online education or begin to go back in person, many kids will suffer from a serious lack of either education or the success that they crave to pursue their dream career.
Jack Wright
Huntington Woods
Michiganders need utility relief
Michiganders are struggling. Basics like water and utilities are unaffordable for many families, and financial assistance programs are being eliminated. According to recent survey data, 20% of families nationwide could not pay their energy bills this year, with Black and Hispanic families hit the hardest. Michigan responded to the COVID-19 crisis with a utility shut-off moratorium, but that expired on June 12. And DTE Energy doesn’t have to report shut-off data to its regulators, meaning we can’t even know the full scale of those in need of support.
Michiganders need utility relief immediately and need energy affordability in the long term. One way to achieve the former is through federal action. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. Gary Peters should urge the Senate to pass a nationwide utility shutoff moratorium as part of the COVID-19 stimulus package immediately. No one should go without power and other essential utility services period, let alone during a pandemic.
Leah Wiste
Detroit