Friday letters: Electric vehicles, Rotary thanks, library board appointee congratulations

Electric vehicles cheaper to run

I’ve put a lot of thought into this and I’ve been a scientist and science teacher for 30+ years.

Electric vehicles are much better for the environment and are much cheaper to operate than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The main reason is their energy efficiency. There is a motor on each wheel that regenerates the battery when you slow down or go downhill. This allows the electric car to efficiently use the charge to get you from point A to point B. 

With an ICE car, the gasoline is very energy intensive. In order to get gasoline first you have to drill, then frack, pump, transport, and refine the petroleum into gasoline. The gasoline must then be transported again and finally pumped into your vehicle to move you from Point A to point B. This is a huge carbon footprint and is expensive. 

The US electric grid that charges an EV is now powered by about 50% renewable sources and that % is increasing. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, we estimate the operating cost of our electric vehicle is literally 1/3 of the cost of an ICE vehicle that runs on gasoline.

Joe Mollica, Glenwood Springs

Congratulations to library board appointee

Congratulations to Myrna Fletchall as the newest member of the Garfield County Library District Board. Sincere congratulations also to Library District Chairwoman Adrian Rippy-Sheehy for setting the public record straight about the library board member selection process and its politicization by the county commissioners. Very best of luck to all.

Joyce Jenkins, Glenwood Springs

Rotary thanks community for support

Carbondale Rotary’s fourth annual Fireball Drop on May 3rd was our best one yet. A record number of spectators joined us at the Village Smithy on First Friday to witness almost 1,000 ping pong balls tumble from a fire ladder truck onto targets on the ground to select our winners, all of whom were from Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. It was a beautiful, breezy day and great fun.

Huge thanks to our title sponsor Ace Hardware of Carbondale and lead sponsor Alpine Bank for their commitment year after year. 

The Cowen Center, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Obermeyer Wood Asset Management, Rivers Dentistry, Thunder River Theatre Company, and Umbrella Roofing also stepped in with key year-round support. 

Other sponsors included Bookbinders, Carbondale Car Care/Philips 66, Brian Keleher at Coldwell Banker Mason Morse, Herschel Ross Family Dentistry, Lulubelle and Bristlecone Mountain Sports, Martin Insurance, Mike Waski, Modern Day Media, John Moore, Nordic Gardens, the Pain Center of the Roaring Fork Valley, Robin Tolan, Sopris Liquor and Wine, Karen Pierson at Sotheby’s Real Estate at RVR, RK Wolff Safety Consulting, and Whitsitt Law Office.

We would like to especially thank the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District. They brought the equipment, manpower, expertise, and good energy that made it all possible.

Thanks also to our event partners: the Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department, the Carbondale Chamber, the Sopris Sun, and City Market Carbondale. 

We’d also like to congratulate the Family Block Party and Pride Parade for another wonderful event that brings out the best of Carbondale.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who bought balls from us, our scholarship recipients, our exchange students, Ascendigo, and everyone at the Fire Station. You’ve helped us raise much needed funds for our community service projects, scholarships and exchange programs. We are indeed grateful to be a part of this amazing and generous community.

Alan Cole – Fundraising Chair & Ann Harris, Leslie Shor – Rotary Co-Presidents; Carbondale