Renewable energy a priority this election

Will candidate positions on climate change, energy policy and environmental issues affect your vote as they do mine?

Whatever your opinion on climate change, you cannot deny fossil fuels are finite. Oil wells depleted the world over in the last three decades. Only with fracking has the U.S. experienced another brief oil and gas boom. Fracking threatens our drinking water as do oil and gas pipelines over our aquifers and streams. Drinking water will become ever more precious as climate changes and population and demand surge. Drought in the West is only a preview.

While we cannot immediately phase out fossil fuels, we must shift toward renewable energy.

I will vote for Senate candidate Bruce Braley who recognizes the impact of fossil fuels on climate and the environment. Braley supported the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which addressed renewable energy research and development as well as energy efficiency and infrastructure.

I will vote for 1st District Congressional candidate Pat Murphy whose leadership in the Iowa House created the Iowa Power Fund and green jobs, funded research and development of wind and solar energy, ethanol, and biodiesel, funded REAP. Murphy supports Iowa counties banning frack sand mining.

I will vote for Iowa Sen. Rob Hogg, who has been a tireless educator on the effects of carbon pollution and climate change. Hogg promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. He made watershed management and water pollution priorities after the 2008 flood.

Nancy Sauerman

Cedar Rapids