A bridge toward a renewable future

I applaud the Observer-Reporter’s editorial of Oct. 10, “Renewable Energy Remains the Way Forward for the Future,” for its recognition that the future of energy production lies in renewables if the United States wants to remain competitive in the world economy and help mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Even in Washington County, where natural gas is a major industry, support for renewable energy is strong. An estimated 61 percent of people in Washington County support requiring utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources, according to the 2016 Yale Climate Opinion Maps.
But let’s be clear. A rapid transition away from fossil fuels is needed. Natural gas is not a “clean” energy source. As you correctly state, natural gas is a “cleaner” energy source, specifically, cleaner than coal. Natural gas, therefore, is not good for the environment; it’s just better than a coal-based alternative. Three states currently have bans on fracking in response to growing concerns and evidence that fracking is potentially harmful to human health. Furthermore, while the transition to natural gas has been instrumental in stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions globally, stabilizing emissions is not nearly enough. To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we must rapidly achieve zero net emissions by about 2050.
As your editorial states, natural gas can indeed serve as a bridge toward a renewable future, but that bridge must necessarily be short. The health of the planet and the health of our children depend on it.
Richard Ankney
Pittsburgh