Letters to the Editor: Aug. 15 | Lexington Herald Leader

No 'war on coal' in industry woes

General Electric recently announced improved combined cycle natural gas power plants that are 61 percent efficient in turning heat energy into electrical energy.

Combined cycle power plants first burn natural gas in a jet engine-like turbine, then make steam from the exhaust.

Coal plants average 34 percent efficiency, although Germany built a 45.8 percent efficient coal plant.

Combined cycle natural gas power plant costs less to build than a modern coal power plant.

Sulfur is removed from natural gas before delivery. Expensive to operate scrubbers are needed for coal. Natural gas has very little mercury and coal has lots.

Natural gas is delivered by turning a valve. Coal is delivered by train, unloaded, moved around and then pulverized before burning — all of which costs money.

Natural gas burns clean. Coal leaves coal ash, which is hard to get rid of the Tennessee Valley Authority is spending over $1 billion cleaning up coal ash spills — one reason TVA is moving from 59 percent coal to 20 percent.

Even at higher than today's natural gas prices, it's both cheaper and better for the environment to produce electricity from combined cycle natural gas power plants than coal power plants.

No "war on coal" required.

Alan Drake

Georgetown

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U.S. needs to help

When did this nation become so cowardly? When did it decide it wasn't our problem when a group of separatists decide to shoot a civilian jetliner out of the sky.

The last time I checked the strong protect the weak. We as a nation need to do more than give out sanctions, investigate and apologize to the families on those jetliners. If what we are doing now is not enough to stop the separatists from shooting multiple planes and helicopters out of the sky, then we need to do more and get personal.

I was deployed twice to Afghanistan and I helped the less fortunate. protected their villages, gave them food, water and clothes.

I had no problem doing so because my nation is great and I was helping a weaker nation. We need to support Ukraine more in pushing out the separatists.

It upsets me that there is not more of an outrage toward this incident — it wasn't the first time this happened. If nothing more is done it won't be the last. How long before it's on our shores?

Sgt. Brandon Reed, retired

Lexington

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Money-making idea

The University of Kentucky Athletics Department and the K-Fund should take a page out of Keeneland's playbook.

For example, the UK Athletic Department and K-Fund people could place a large screen TV on the side of the hill by the Arboretum for their loyal fans (loyal equals stupid) who have been put out to pasture — like Keeneland does near the Keene Barn for tailgaters during racing dates.

Alongside the TV, they place 10 to 15 betting stations. Since the state legislators already allow scalping of tickets and parking passes, UK shouldn't have a problem getting betting stations.

If this tactic doesn't raise enough funds, then place five or six "Belle Brezing" stations and you will make plenty of money.

This extra funding should eliminate any future financial problems for both organizations.

Danny Sullivan

Lexington

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Cut McConnell from Ky.

Sen. Mitch McConnell has been in office for 30 years and feels it's not his job to create jobs in Kentucky. Opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes has a jobs plan and wants to be in touch with that.

McConnell wants to lower funding for Pell Grants and increase student loan rates. There are more uneducated people on government aid while McConnell denies them a chance to a decent wage.

He believes in cutting funding for childhood education and for key transportation bills to improve roads and bridges. He doesn't believe in equal pay for women nor protecting them.

Grimes believes in investing in the people. There are 413,000 people with health care McConnell wants to deny. McConnell believes in cuts or eliminating Medicare and Social Security as we know it. He doesn't support bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform. This can change with a vote for Grimes in November.

Robert Jett

Lexington

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Jensen for Congress

Rep. Andy Barr's Planned Parenthood remarks remind one of the stark differences between him and his opponent, Elisabeth Jensen. Jensen grasps what researchers the world over are finding: the health and well-being of women and girls reflects the health of a community.

When women and girls have access to information, and make informed and educated decisions about their reproductive health, communities thrive.

Somehow this simple idea, gaining traction globally, finds little currency with our congressman as witnessed by Barr's support of the Hobby Lobby decision, allowing companies to deny women birth control methods the company deems undesirable, and his repeated votes to repeal Kynect.

So Barr would block women's access to family planning from companies like Hobby Lobby, nonprofits like Planned Parenthood and health providers operating under Kynect.

I'm glad Jensen understands the need to cultivate generations of informed Kentucky women able to negotiate their own health care needs.

Rosie Moosnick

Lexington