Dear Editor:

Three points in regards to Aspen hydro.

First, economics: The true cost of coal-fired power extends well beyond what is paid directly for coal. Pollution, related health costs, environmental degradation, and the ever-escalating direct cost of coal are insane and we as a country must apply all the costs to the equation, not just coal’s price per ton.

Second, Aspen owns water rights: Those rights were not “abandoned” as the opponents suggest, and it is them seeking to have Aspen’s rights abandoned. In Colorado there are X cubic feet per second of water for every river. If rights are abandoned that leaves those rights available for others to claim. I support fighting to keep Aspen’s water rights.

Third, respect: Mayor Ireland has a penchant for insulting and degrading opponents; I have been there. He has misled the public about my motivations before and it is offensive and motivating. When the mayor goes Rev. Falwell on people, it makes them want to fight; and in my experience fighting is inefficient, divisive, and rarely yields the best results. The art of leadership is to “win” without the fight.

Scott Writer

Aspen