I get it. Gildon hates home electrification. He doesn’t need to mislead us about it | Opinion

Gildon is misleading TCH readers on electrification

The op-ed by Sen. Chris Gildon appearing in the April 7 Tri-City Herald is misleading at best. The inflated Building Industry Association of Washington cost estimate for homeowners to convert from gas to electricity is largely based on worst-case assumptions.

Mr. Gildon also neglects to mention the availability of up to $4,600 in federal tax credits, and up to $14,000 in federally funded rebates per household that specifically offset the costs of electrification.

The senator does not mention $77,600,000 in Climate Commitment Account funding for similar rebates that will be available later this year.

There is no consideration of savings that accrue over time from use of heat pumps instead of natural gas for home heating and water heating. The low cost of clean electricity in the Tri-Cities yields savings as much as $500/year for a modest 2,000 sq. ft. home.

In many homes, where equipment is near end of life and in need of replacement anyway, only the differential cost for installing heat pump vs gas equipment should be considered.

The recent op-ed by Steve Ghan and Senator Matt Boehnke (Tri-City Herald, April 14) addresses many misconceptions regarding home electrification options, costs and effectiveness.

Bruce Rathbone, Richland

U.S. needs to end its special relationship with Israel

Contrary to international law, Israel recently bombed the Iranian embassy in Syria and killed three Iranian commanders and five other people.

Instead of criticizing Israel for this action, our president has warned Iran not to retaliate. Despite Israel’s lobbying our congress to the contrary, we do not need to go to war with Iran who has not done us any harm.

However, it is time to rethink our special relationship with Israel. It has morphed from a beleaguered little democracy surrounded by enemies to a thuggish, racist and rogue regime that employs apartheid, torture,and arbitrary imprisonment.

It also continues to occupy territories seized by its military. Currently, it has killed over 30,000 civilians in its current war with Hamas and is terrorizing Palestinians in the West Bank. Our continuing alliance and support of Israel has been very bad for the U.S. and alienated our country throughout much of the Muslim world.

We do not need to follow this country into its continuing craziness. The U.S. should quit giving Israel three billion dollars a year (which helps to finance their military aggression and to lobby our congress) and treat it like any other country, based on actual American national interests.

Bill Petrie, Richland

Election integrity talk is hot air

The future one-term speaker and one-term president speaking about election integrity laws is like O.J. and Charlie Manson speaking on strengthening murder laws. It’s too late after you already broke all the laws.

Roy Harmon, Benton City

Does BFT really need those busses?

According to their website, Ben Franklin Transit operates 71 full-size busses. With the exception of Benton Franklin County Fair time, I have rarely seen more than five riders, and it’s usually less than two riders at any given time on any bus at any time of day.

Why does BFT need 71 full-size buses on the streets when a Honda Civic or a Dodge Caravan or maybe one of those big Ford passenger vans would suffice?

Louie D. Smith, Pasco