Open forum

Boulder Municipal Airport

No right to cry NIMBY

Iam writing in response to the Nov 18 letter, “Boulder Municipal Airport – A public health problem.” Boulder airport is home to millions of dollars of economic activity every year, as well as dozens of jobs, from aircraft repair, new experimental aircraft construction, NASA contracts, high-tech companies and instruction for the next generation of airline pilots. Boulder airport also plays a vital role in public safety, serving as the base of operations for lifesaving efforts during the 2013 floods, for fire-fighting equipment (especially during the terrible 2020 fire season), and for medevac helicopters during inclement weather. Per the health concerns raised in the headline and letter, the FAA is in the process of rolling out a new generation of aircraft fuels that burns as clean as auto fuel and a number of manufacturers have begun to produce the first all-electric aircraft.

Airports in Santa Monica, San Rafael, and San Jose are under siege due to the efforts of real estate developers who wish to line their pockets at the expense of vital public interests. Don’t let that happen here. Boulder airport was opened in the 1920s, and anyone who has bought or built a house near it in the last 90-plus years knew it was there when they moved in and has no right to cry “NIMBY.”

Climate crisis

Calling for a ‘Code Red’

In recent years the climate crisis has worsened as wildfires, tropical storms, and other weather events rage across the world as we climb closer and closer to a dangerous 1.5-degree Celsius. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently published a report regarding the current situation, current projections estimate we will reach the 1.5 degree threshold sometime in the 2030s.

Colorado has provided strict policies regarding oil and gas drilling but is it enough? Colorado boasts strict policies such as electric oil drilling rigs, closedloop systems, and leak detection systems that reduce oil and gas emissions by a staggering 75%. The problem arises when we realize that 90% of oil and 75% of natural gas are exported from Colorado, effectively bypassing the regulations established by the policies.

A possible solution could be phasing out oil and gas from our economy entirely. The Colorado gas and oil Industry accounts for approximately 6% of GDP, this means effectively we will need to expand industries that will benefit the climate while benefiting the economy. A viable solution to fill this gap is to increase the construction of housing in Colorado benefitting the economy while creating a solution to Colorado’s housing shortage. By building houses we will now need to expand the trade, entertainment, and food service industries. Due to the domino effect of creating more housing, replacing the gap in the economy would be a whole lot easier due to the many industries being benefited. Due to the loss of oil and gas, electricity-based technologies will be likely required, ranging from electric vehicles to electric stoves and heating systems. Clean energy solutions from wind and solar farms to nuclear energy will also benefit the environment. Overall we need to realize that economic stability does not

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The Camera welcomes readers’ letters. Timely topics of local interest are given first preference. All letters are subject to editing. Our guidelines:

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Biodiesel tax credit

Tax parity ensures progress

Families across Colorado can expect higher emissions and higher costs if Congress continues to support a tax credit for renewable jet fuel, currently included in the president’s budget framework.

That’s because the special tax credit for jet fuel would effectively eliminate the tax benefits for other clean fuels such as biodiesel and renewable diesel.

If Congress favors one fuel over another, the impacts on the air we breathe will be detrimental.

Biofuels have been reducing diesel emissions for more than a decade. On California’s roads alone, renewable diesel and biodiesel removed more than 18 million tons of carbon dioxide between 2011 and 2019.

The cost of the special jet fuel tax credit will also be transferred to Colorado families – they’ll find themselves paying more to heat their home in the winter months.

Higher fuel prices also will lead to an increase in the price of consumer goods since 80% of deliveries to American communities are made by truck. Coloradans will pay more for everyday necessities, such as food and medication.

To ensure the transportation industry maintains access to renewable diesel and biodiesel, equal tax treatment with other fuels is critical. Tax parity will ensure we do not reverse progress in reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation sector .

We need Sen. Michael Bennet to push back against this flawed proposal and work with his colleagues in Congress to extend the biodiesel tax credit at parity today to protect families and keep emissions low in Colorado communities.

Housing

Post-election comments are revealing

The reaction to the loss of Bedrooms Are For People by the protagonists and by those who campaigned against it in order to preserve Boulder’s heritage, reflects the tenor of the pro-andagainst campaigns, the first flush with money and rule-bending arrogance, and the other with humility and in service of the community. I wish to reiterate their reactions that reflect on this contrast.

The protagonists: “We are blown away by the momentum of our movement and the thousands of people who joined us along the way …Young people, renters, people who support social justice and climate action showed up in an odd-year election and voted for change. Boulder now has the first majority progressive Council in decades.”

The prevailing opposition: “It has been a long and difficult campaign, but we look forward to working with the Bedrooms Are for People supporters and the new City Council to create an ordinance that will guarantee greater access to housing that will be both affordable and respectful of our established neighborhoods.”

Perhaps we can see what truly is “Boulder” and what she is not: Community versus greed. opinion in any rolling 30-day period

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