Dear editor:

Imagine what downtown Niles would look like if we spent a billion dollars each day there. Of course, this is a notion of imagination; however, every day we do spend billions of dollars on foreign oil. Imagine the opportunities that would manifest if we spent that money creating jobs here, instead of continuing to assist the unfriendly establishments abroad?

For starters, our health would improve immensely. We are in the midst of a menacing climate crisis, and our communities are suffering from the consequences of corporations using unclean energy without considering the well-being of our planet.

It is imperative that we invest in clean, renewable energy sources and technologies that will improve energy efficiency. Young people like myself have the most to lose from this climate crisis, but even more to gain from a new clean energy economy. Smart energy policies will create more jobs in our community, and 1.9 million jobs nationwide. In my opinion, we deserve nothing less.

Cassie O’Toole
advocate for Repower America