Letters

I would like to make a comment on St. Roch’s Church renovation project that has been going on for over a year in LaSalle, to be sold as a home or an apartment.

There are approximately 2.6 million Muslims in the United States. Most of them are as concerned as their fellow Americans about the effects of religious fanaticism around the globe and at home. They have an additional reason for concern: The backlash against people of their faith since 9/11.

Last summer, a relative visited us and commented about the number of newspapers we have delivered to our home each week. He jokingly said that if we didn’t subscribe to so many newspapers, we could afford dish, or cable, or whatever people subscribe to in order to get hundreds of channels. My wife and I both responded that we are able to keep up on world and national news without a special television package, thanks to newspapers and regular TV, and we also subscribe to a couple of news magazines including Time and The Week. These subscriptions allow us to read up on the news when it’s convenient for us — and in the quiet of our home.

On April 23, 2013, the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 4-1 that Mainstream’s application is in compliance with the current Lee County Zoning Ordinance for Wind Energy Conversion Systems. Later the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-2 to deny the Mainstream request for a permit. If Mainstream met all the requirements of the Lee County Zoning Ordinance for Wind Energy Conversion Systems, why did the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals deny Mainstream a permit?

We adamantly oppose Rock Island Clean Line placing power transmission lines through our state of Illinois. The cost in our natural resources, health quality and finances would be negatively impacted in an insurmountable way.

Leeco Steel has been an active supplier and supporter to the wind energy industry for more than six years. As the main supplier of plate steel to the wind industry in North America, we understand the industry itself is quite young in the United States. We have seen it evolve first hand into an integral component of a national energy policy. Leeco’s Steel’s involvement with wind energy has not been on the perimeter. We have rolled up our sleeves and educated ourselves on best practices; immersed ourselves in our customers’ business; and took action on national policy as a board member of the American Wind Energy Association.

Five years ago Princeton experienced what many referred to as a hundred-year rain. A couple of weeks ago, another hundred-year rain occurred. I recall storms while growing up referred to as hundred-year rains. It’s inevitable that hundred-year rains are in our future, and so are flooding and sanitary back up issues.

Mr. Royer (Winergy CEO opinion 29th letter “In support of “RICL”) states wind industry is at a critical crossroad. Any industry that depends on taxpayers’ subsidies on yearly renewal will always be in a crisis.

Fans of Richard Widmark (1914-2008), the 1932 Princeton High School graduate who became a Hollywood movie star, have 15 more reasons to go to the Princeton Public Library, check out a Widmark movie, and rediscover this remarkable actor.

The Laffer curve may not be known to many Americans, but it is well known to economists. It is an economic theory that supports “supply side” economics. There are many opinions about the relationship between tax rates and government revenue as described by the Laffer curve. But the fact is, decreasing taxes also decreases tax revenue, and increased economic activity does not make up the difference. 

In response to Thomas Newby’s “Teaching faith”... Religion is being taught in our public schools! The religion of evolution. Evolution asks the same questions as religion. 1. Telling us where we came from. Accidents from the evolutionary process. 2. Explaining what we are. A random collection of matter. 3. Where we are going? Nothing beyond the grave. 4. And what we should do along the way. Kill or be killed.

America is at a critical crossroads with our wind industry. America really needs a long-term plan to increase the use of renewable energy. I write today regarding one of the biggest, long-term barriers to growing this industry: The nation’s current electric transmission system. The Rock Island Clean Line will help alleviate the problem.