Related Article: Letters to the Editor for Monday, Aug. 18 - spokesman.com - Monday, August 18, 2025, 3:26:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Target: Northwest State Governors, Public Utility Districts, and Regional Energy Regulators
Goal: Urge state and regional leaders to reject fossil fuel expansion, invest in renewable energy, and regulate high-consumption industries to protect our environment and communities.
The Northwest is experiencing an unprecedented shortage of electricity, but the answer cannot be to double down on fossil fuels at the expense of our air, water, and climate. Climate change is already affecting our rivers, aquifers, and hydropower capacity, with droughts and heat waves becoming more frequent and severe. Meanwhile, the surge in electricity demand from cryptocurrency, data storage, and artificial intelligence industries is overwhelming our power grid, putting additional strain on already fragile resources.
We must question whether these industries contribute enough to justify the environmental and social costs, including threats to endangered species, treaty obligations, and public health. Our leaders must act now to protect our future by investing in renewable energy, regulating high-consumption industries, and ensuring that our energy policies prioritize people and the planet over profit.