By investing in clean energy, we can have jobs and healthier air

Regarding Dennis Roddy’s dystopian, denialist rant (“Enjoy the Cold and Dark,” Oct. 1 Forum), it’s time for a reality check:

1. Manmade climate change is now upon us.

2. Fracking produces prodigous amounts of climate-changing greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions that directly and indirectly impact human health.

3. With the proper political, economic and scientific imagination and leadership, quickly moving away from carbon-based fuel sources should not “stall the progress of civilization,” “cost human lives” or force any country to “instantly deindustrialize.”

Mr. Roddy’s crotchety vision of the Pittsburgh region would have health-harming diesel locomotives hauling coal from economically and environmentally devastated coalfield communities to health-harming coal-fired power plants — all to preserve jobs that are, slowly and surely, going away.

In reality, Pittsburgh residents like having cleaner air. Clean air attracts businesses to Pittsburgh; it attracts young people and entrepreneurs to live, learn, create and play in a city that has worked hard to be livable. Dirty air repels and serves as an economic risk to bringing family-supporting jobs to the region. Jobs versus a clean environment is a fossilized concept. It is entirely possible — in fact, it is essential — for both to coexist.

Rather than Mr. Roddy’s sclerotic vision of a dirty, unhealthy, carbon-fueled planet, we need forwardthinkers who acknowledge the scientific reality of climate change, who accept the need to invest aggressively now in clean energy and who embrace the enormous economic, social, national security and health opportunities that will follow humanity’s necessary move away from fossil fuels, for the benefit of all citizens. EDWARD C. KETYER, M.D. Peters