Climate concerns

Regarding Regarding “Tomlinson: As oil and gas industry's profits soar, corporations can afford to fight climate change,” (Aug. 3): I applaud the Chronicle for exposing the subterfuge of fossil fuel giants raking in record profits, including subsidies for renewables, while making the planet unlivable for future generations. How insidious and cynical of these corporations to be rewarded twice: once through obscene oil profits from contributing to the root of the climate crisis, and a second time for seemingly addressing the problem they’re creating.

The future, if there is to be one, will be one of decarbonization, electrification of vehicles and appliances, and clean energy. Pie-in-the sky thinking?

Mark Z. Jacobson, professor and director of Stanford’s Atmosphere/ Energy program brilliantly details in his book “100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything” how to transition our economy to truly green energy. He says we already have the wind, water and solar components; what’s missing is the political will to make it happen. Our grandchildren are counting on us.

Tom Osborne, Laguna Beach, Calif.

Kudos to you, Chris Tomlinson, for “telling it like it is” — as ever. This is a very important message:

“When a product damages our shared environment, the company making the profits should pay to mitigate the damage. We need elected representatives who will enforce this common-sense principle and protect our future.”

Amen, and thank you. What we individuals and businesses won’t do for the almighty dollar?

Disgraceful, and devastating to our home on this Earth.

Maris Helfrich, Galveston

Regarding “Editorial: Offshore wind to the rescue! Texas proposal could keep us cool when inland wind farms can’t.,” ( July 25): There seems to be support for hundreds of wind generators in a 546,645 acre wind farm 24 miles off the coast of Galveston. This facility would generate enough electricity to supply 2.3 million homes. Is anyone else concerned about how this facility would function after experiencing a Category 5 hurricane? If it were to go offline, how would the backup power be supplied? I hope that someone is taking this reliability concern into consideration. Jim Robertson, Houston