Letter To The Editor Published in Courier Journal

Ky must embrace new energy - Letter To The Editor, Courier Journal

I am tired of people stereotyping millennials as lazy, ignorant and apathetic. My generation is full of knowledge, skills, compassion and creativity and we are underappreciated. Our leaders and legislators should stop dismissing our concerns and actually listen to our ideas to solve today’s problems.

We know that renewable energy is the future for our economy. The transition is already happening, and many states are adopting policies to embrace the opportunities that come with it, like new jobs, less pollution, healthier communities and reduced carbon emissions. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency shows Texas as third in the nation with 125 policies and incentives supporting renewables and efficiency. Texas! A Southern, conservative, fossil-fuel powerhouse is the nation’s third leading state when it comes to new energy policies.

Kentucky has a lot to gain from embracing the new energy economy sooner rather than later. The coal industry is declining, and we need to advance new energy technology to replace that loss. The Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition calls on our elected officials to listen to young voices and create policies that encourage renewable energy before we are left even further behind in the inevitable transition to renewable energy.
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Taylor Renfro
Lexington, Ky. 40508