Re: Nov. 20 business news story.
State Sen. Randy Baumgardner says he doesn’t think itap too late for coal. His push to revive a dying industry will only delay the inevitable. As your story points out, there is a global push to reduce carbon emissions involving much of the free world. Donald Trump’s vapid campaign promises notwithstanding, it is indeed too late for coal to mount a comeback because the world has by and large rejected the dirty energy as a relic of the bygone past. Taking a rear-view mirror approach in trying to revive a dead industry will only further impoverish an already ailing local economy and raise false hopes. Perhaps the federal government could step in with job retraining programs, but sorry, folks, coal isn’t coming back — ever. Along with whale oil lamps and the horse and buggy, coal is passé and outmoded.
Greg Sauer, Woodland Park
The Colorado coal lie used by Sen. Randy Baumgardner to win his election is the same lie that won Trump voters. The factless but successful strategy lately is that if you say it and the voters want to believe it and are give someone to blame, they will give you their vote. Sadly, the principle-lacking politicians know they are lying but exploit desperation and despair in coal country. The fact is coal is on a continuing decline, jobs are not coming back, alternative energy and gas are the future. Neither President Obama nor evil forces caused this change, and neither Sen. Baumgardner or Donald Trump can reverse this trend. The other unfortunate aspect of this is that these politicians are rarely held accountable in the next election but simply bring an updated lie and bogeyman to justify previous lies.
Stan Hrincevich, Littleton
Your article makes clear why our West Slope coal communities should continue to plan for expanding their economies in new ways — and not wait on the hope that coal demand will come back. As the story notes, coal deliveries from Colorado coal mines to U.S. power plants have dropped by two-thirds over the last decade, primarily because itap cheaper and cleaner to generate electricity from natural gas and renewables.
This is a new normal for coal, which is way down from the peak just a short time ago. Colorado coal communities have some time to plan for managing their economies through the ups and downs of the new coal market. We should all work together at the local, state and national level to help communities and workers through the continuing changes.
Jim Ramey, Denver
The writer is outreach coordinator for The Wilderness Society’s Energy and Climate Campaign.
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
