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People’s column

Climate disasters loom for globe

Editor, OBSERVER:

“Ball Hill Wind Farm work back on track” (June 13) is good news for Western New York’s efforts to mitigate climate change. When completed, the wind farm will generate over 261 gigawatts of electricity.

That means 28,000 homes powered by clean energy and not by health- and planet-destroying fossil fuels. But even as states like New York have stepped up in the fight against climate change disasters, the federal government must do more if we are going to get this crisis under control. President Joe Biden and forward-thinking Congressional leaders must propose a new and targeted reconciliation bill to address the multiple problems facing us.

In the last 18 months, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have done heroic work for New Yorkers. They have delivered investments in infrastructure and COVID relief despite concerted GOP opposition. But there is more work to be done.

We desperately need bold investments to take on continuing risks to public health, rising costs of necessary goods, and increasing threats posed by climate disasters.

Spending now to reduce emissions will have long ranging benefits for the health of our families and for the economy of the region and the rest of the country. Mitigating climate change using the tools now in our hands is a bargain that will pay for itself a thousand-fold in the future.

MARY JANE WAGNER,

Fredonia

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