The critical importance of a safe, reliable heating system is on clear display right now as Chicago shivers through a freezing January. Inside homes across the city, families are staying warm thanks to Peoples Gas infrastructure and our work crews who keep the heat flowing as temperatures drop.
The hardworking men and women of Peoples Gas can always be counted on. The energy-delivery pipes they maintain, though, are running out of time. In an editorial published Jan. 11, the Sun-Times Editorial Board shows an understanding of this critical risk. Unfortunately, we believe some other parts of the editorial were not fully accurate. We’d like to set the record straight.
The energy pipes running under Chicago’s streets date back as far as the 1800s. They’re rapidly corroding. An independent engineering study ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission determined they need to be replaced as quickly as possible.
Peoples Gas had been doing that replacement, on time and on budget, until work was paused by ICC commissioners, who wanted to make sure the large-scale construction was delivering value for customers. With our full cooperation, a thorough review process was commenced, and now is almost complete.
Unfortunately, as regulators prepare to make a decision about the future of this critical work, a group of political activists bent on banning natural gas is trying to bury the facts while sadly spreading misinformation — to the detriment of public safety. No one should fall for their tricks.
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Here are the facts.
Natural gas heating remains the most affordable and reliable way to stay safe and warm, by far. The political group’s scheme to force Chicago and other Illinois communities to go “all electric” would double or triple heating bills, and heap massive safety and financial risk onto Illinoisans’ ability to keep warm.
Two independent judges assigned to examine all evidence and perspectives in the ICC’s review recently concluded the safety program should continue. They also said the specific plan put forth by Peoples Gas “offers a balanced and cost-effective approach” as well as “efficiencies that would be foolish to ignore.”
Meanwhile, the ICC’s longtime safety engineers also testified there is an “urgent need” to move forward with construction to ensure safety and reliability in Chicago’s heating system. One engineer stated: “It is important to remember that the longer leak-prone pipe remains under Chicago streets, the greater the risk of a catastrophic event that could endanger life and property. In a system as aged as Peoples’ distribution system, the likelihood of leaks increases with each passing year that vintage pipes remain in the ground.”
A decision as critical as the one currently before ICC commissioners should be based on facts, not politics. Chicagoans’ safety and winter warmth depend on it.
Maria Bocanegra, president, Peoples Gas
Trump supporters don’t deserve my respect
I’m writing in response to something Lynn Sweet said in her recent opinion piece, “What to take away from Trump’s two Inauguration Day speeches.” In the fifth paragraph Ms. Sweet wrote, “Trump won. Voters knew about Trump. And they wanted him. We have to respect that.” Why do I have to respect that? They voted for a convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, pathological liar, serial adulterer and grifter. Is Ms. Sweet talking about civility? Civility is dead. Trump and his collaborators, the Republican Party, killed it during his first administration.
So no, Ms. Sweet, I don’t have to respect those who voted for him. Because they obviously have no respect for the millions of people who didn’t vote for this poor excuse for a human being. I have no intention of exercising civility with these people. They have condemned the rest of us to the whims of this monster. Trump, his voters and the Republican Party have declared war on the American people and our democracy. It’s time to fight back.
Susan Lovell, DeKalb
Change 14th Amendment? Sure. But also do away with presidential pardons
I rarely agree with Donald Trump nor would I ever vote for him, however he does have a valid point regarding birthright citizenship. People who come here illegally and have children may be taking advantage of our Constitution and perhaps this should be amended.
That being said, we should perhaps require another part of our Constitution be amended, for that has also been taken advantage of. Along with birthright citizenship we should, as part of the amendment package, remove the presidential pardon. The presidential pardon is an affront to our justice system. The ability to cause supporters to perpetrate crimes and then pardon them is the epitome of a fascist system in the making, and while Trump’s pardoning of the Jan. 6 rioters is ludicrous and a huge violation of our Democracy, it is even more ludicrous that that the instigator of Jan. 6 was not incarcerated along with the people he provoked.
Mark Padgurskis, Clearing
Silverstein has gotten outcrying down to a fine art
To: Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), who has been slapping the “antisemitic” label on any criticism of Israel, including artwork:
Israel has been involved in killing defenseless human beings, supported by America’s arms. Over 46,000 have perished so far, including some 17,000 children. The mass extermination of helpless human lives is an event which extends deep into the realm of barbaric cruelty and unrestrained savagery. It is a war crime.
J. Murray, Loop