Pilgrim Pipeline has nothing but downsides

Dear Editor, I’m joining others on Feb. 23 at the Newburgh Town Board meeting to voice my opposition to the proposal of Pilgrim Pipeline Company to install bidirectional pipelines containing fracked and other fuels through our area. We are asking the board to pass a resolution against Pilgrim. Rosendale, Kingston, Plattekil, New Paltz, etc., and over 20 towns in New Jersey have passed such resolutions. Non-fossil energy (solar, wind, geothermal, water) will decrease pollution, but there are incentives not to increase these energy sources due to the financial power of fossil fuel companies.

The oil, coal, and gas companies pay little taxes and make huge profits. Their lobbyists influence politicians. For example, a company that owns 90 percent of U.S. pipelines received about $700 million in tax breaks in 2012. That same year, they gave $9.55 million to lobby members of Congress. Non-fossil fuel companies receive less tax incentives and tax breaks, even though a March 2013 Cornell University study found that wind, solar, water could fuel the entire U.S. Pollution will increase: • NASA reported that a 2,500-square-mile plume is hovering over several Western states from escaped methane originating from sites of fracking, gas and coal productions.

• Methane is worse than carbon dioxide for global warming.

• There are 137 federal pipeline inspectors for 2.5 million miles of pipelines.

• Pipeline incidents occur every 30 hours in U.S.

Ironically, at the rate of present use, coal, petroleum, and natural gas sources could move extinction in 40-50 years. Nora Gallardo, R.N., M.S.

Wallkill, N.Y. that the president is trying to find common ground by increasing the Pentagon budget at the expense of other programs vital to our country.

The Pentagon wastes more money in a year than many other cabinet agencies have to spend. While the president’s budget provides close to $600 billion for the Pentagon (the largest amount in history) many families are still having a hard time bouncing back from the recession.

The president’s budget is a proposal. Now members of Congress need to shape it and make it law. Congress needs to stop throwing good money after bad and look at ways to significantly reduce the Pentagon budget so we can afford imperative programs such as job creation, education, infrastructure, and the environment.

Instead of approving President Obama’s request for $600 billion to the Pentagon, I hope my members of Congress will shift more money back into our community.