Promises kept on the environment

Joe Biden campaigned on the most ambitious climate action platform ever. He’s kept his promise, investing in clean energy infrastructure, fighting for environmental justice and tackling the urgent threat of climate change, while creating millions of good paying union jobs. These achievements have been anchored in the Infrastructure Act, which included funding for clean energy projects, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which accelerates the transition to a clean energy economy. Highlights include:

■ Water infrastructure: over $11 billion for a wide range of projects, including for drinking water and sewage systems.

■ Lead pipes: $6.5 billion has been allocated to identify and replace contaminated pipes. The EPA has issued a proposed rule requiring that all such pipes be removed within 10 years.

<sbull value="sbull"><text xmlns="urn:schemas-teradp-com:gn4tera"></text></sbull> Superfund cleanup: The EPA has funded 70 toxic-waste-riddled Superfund sites and expedited work on another 100 cleanup projects long delayed due to insufficient funding.

<sbull value="sbull"><text xmlns="urn:schemas-teradp-com:gn4tera"></text></sbull> Electric vehicle charging stations: Of $7.5 billion authorized for EV charging, $2.4 billion has been allocated to have 500,000 chargers available by 2030, the target for having EVs account for 50% of new car sales.

<sbull value="sbull"><text xmlns="urn:schemas-teradp-com:gn4tera"></text></sbull> Energy production and security: $62 billion to expand and upgrade the electric grid and provide clean energy; the largest single investment in electric transmission and distribution infrastructure in our history. And $7.3 billion in funding to enhance grid flexibility and resilience against extreme weather and climate change, to ensure clean, efficient energy transmission, and the creation of well-paying jobs.

<sbull value="sbull"><text xmlns="urn:schemas-teradp-com:gn4tera"></text></sbull> Resilience: $50 billion to protect U.S. infrastructure and local communities from physical, climate, and cybersecurity-related threats. This has funded over 2,300 projects to build resilience to these threats, such as wildfires and drought, and to protect roads and bridges from climate events.

Care about the environment? What’s not to like?

Steve Gehlert

West Newbury, Vt.

Veterans deserve commemoration

As a pastor and resident of White River Junction, I was disheartened to read about the heated disagreement over the proposed “Hometown Heroes” veteran tribute banners. While respectful discussion about the aesthetics is understandable, we must not lose sight of the solemn purpose behind this initiative — honoring the many veterans who call our community home, including those at our VA hospital.

These banners are not meant to glorify war or serve as recruitment tools. Rather, they commemorate the profound courage, sacrifice and patriotism embodied by veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present day. This project should unite us. If compromise on the design is needed to better reflect our unique character, so be it. However, we have a moral obligation to ensure that subjective disagreements do not overshadow the imperative of this communal act of gratitude.

When I see veteran tribute banners, I am reminded of the countless heroes who came before me in my own ministry, caring for military families and offering spiritual comfort to those returning from war. Honoring our veterans is a tradition rooted in our Judeo-Christian faith and dates back to biblical times.

I urge our residents to approach this project with open minds and hearts. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the town and “Hometown Heroes” organizers to find a path that upholds our civic and moral values.

Chris Goeppner

Hartford

A downplayed story

Why wasn’t Aaron Bushnell’s death in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25 front page news everywhere in the U.S.? An active Air Force member, he announced he was no longer willing to participate and be complicit in the genocide of Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces facilitated by the US Air Force. He made a public statement before causing his own awful death by self-immolation in front of the Israeli embassy.

Are voices that speak uncomfortable truths ignored? Who suppresses coverage in the media?

Now another active-duty soldier in the U.S. Air Force, Senior Airman Larry Hebert is on a hunger strike outside the White House, where he has been holding a sign that reads “Active Duty Airman Refuses to Eat While Gaza Starves.” He says, “It’s just completely wrong and immoral for civilians to be starved and bombed and targeted in any manner.” Speaking about the death of Aaron Bushnell, he said “What really infuriated me was the silence thereafter. … I don’t know a single member of our government or leaders in the military that really spoke on Aaron, even uttered his name.”

Did you know that the U.S. is supplying Israel with huge bombs that can level entire city blocks plus more fighter jets? Your tax dollars pay for these armaments. “It (our government) has been doing this on a weekly basis since the conflict began, just an open tab of arms,” says Josh Paul, a former State Department official who worked on arms transfers before resigning in October to protest arms sales to Israel.

Plenty of Jewish people in Israel and all over the world are among those who want to stop this genocide. What do you think about a military force killing over 30,000 civilians plus aid workers as a means to root out Hamas fighters? Write the president. I did back in October and did not even receive a form letter reply!

Don’t be silent in response to the agonized cries of Palestinian men, women and children plus members of our own armed services and the state department. Please don’t let Aaron Bushnell’s death be in vain.

Jenny Gelfan

Norwich