Change one light bulb, decrease ‘carbon imprint'

To the editor: The recent decision by the U.S. Dept. of Energy to override NYS’s denial of NYRI to place a 1200 megawatt electric transmission line along a corridor from Canada to Virginia is frightening! The line, placed on pylons some 120 feet high, would certainly mar property values and cause major environmental and health problems. This line is proposed by a Canadian company, to which the DOE is considering granting the right of “Eminent Domain.” However, we as a society must realize our consumption for electricity has increased. If we do not want these lines or any other future lines, then we must take responsibility to reduce our own requirements. We can do our part to decrease our carbon imprint on this fragile planet and in turn assist those groups who are fighting this proposal. As has been printed both in the papers and other periodicals, we can do our part by first switching from ordinary incandescent light bulbs to fluorescents or CFL’s -- compact fluorescent light bulbs. If we each just replace one bulb in our homes, we will make a difference. We can also switch to “green energy.” Green Energy uses wind, water and solar to produce electrical power instead of fossil fuels to generate the electricity we need -- clean, safe and renewable! Call your electric company, probably for most of us O&R and indicate you would like to switch to Green Energy or you can go to their website and sign on for Green Energy. The cost will be slightly higher but you will be reducing your carbon imprint on our planet immediately. What an incredible impact we can make if we all switch. Then maybe we will not need these new lines. There is so much we can do to reduce our own carbon imprint on this fragile planet. Please help! You will be helping yourself but more than that, you will also be ensuring a cleaner and brighter future for your children and your grandchildren. So, if we just change one , then we can reduce our electrical needs and in turn the need for these 1200 megawatt lines. Patricia McConnell, Pine Island Member of Sustainable Warwick