I was dismayed to read the letter to the editor, “LPEA should keep rates low first” (Nov. 30). I am sure the author, Heath Rowe, is aware that the sticker price for many items is not always the final price.
Unfortunately, that is especially true for electricity.
We are learning that the health effects of generating power from coal are terrible. For example, I have asthma. It has been shown that burning coal causes emissions that make asthma worse– even if power plants use scrubbers. The cost of my asthma medications far exceeds my electric bill!
Coal-fired power plant filters cannot remove tiny particles from the smoke – they are too small to even be seen.
Recently, we have learned that people who are exposed to these particles are more likely to have heart attacks.
The true cost of electricity generated by coal is about 18 cents per kilowatt-hour – much more than we pay LPEA. That is why I support renewable power, and hope that our electric cooperative will switch to 100 percent renewable power.
Richard Grossman
Bayfield
