Wayne Birkholz, St. Joseph
There is a request before the city council to permanently shut off the lights that illuminate the water tower in St. Joseph.
The lights are solely for the purpose of civic pride.
Such a frivolous use of energy can no longer be acceptable given the dire predictions by climate scientists. In addition to the air pollution caused by fossil fuels (more than 60 percent of the electricity produced in Minnesota is by burning coal and natural gas), these lights contribute to the ever-increasing prevalence of light pollution. It’s been estimated 80 percent of children born in the United States will never experience a sky dark enough to see the Milky Way.
Both types of pollution have negative consequences that reach far beyond the city limits of St. Joseph.
Please contact the St. Joseph city council to tell them we can no longer continue business as usual in the face of the life-altering and, quite possibly, life-threatening consequences of global climate change.
Attend the city council meeting on April 20 to demand the city council shut off the lights permanently.
