My fear is that before we have time to react, Trump will do what he said he would: cut federal support for green energy and eliminate regulations that prevent the fossil fuel industry from making climate change far worse.

Trump wants to put the fossil fuel industry on steroids, but this will not boost our economy. The fossil fuel industry is based on jobs out of state, and profits going to wealthy investors. In contrast, Revision Energy provides hundreds of good, local jobs, working on solar arrays and battery systems. Damaging the green energy industry would hurt our state’s economy.

Until now, the court system, the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress have stopped fossil fuel corporations from doing anything they want. But these protective institutions are threatened, and they may be less able to protect us from corporate greed. Trump will try to railroad through some political changes to unleash the fossil fuel industry further. Once done, these changes may be hard to undo. So we must pay attention now and contact our federal representatives quickly when dangerous steps are taken.

My hope is that we will remember who we are as Americans: people who are willing to stand up to Big Money interests, to protect our beautiful world, and our children’s future. We can have a good economy and protect what is dear to us. Don’t believe any politicians who tells you it’s either one or the other. That way, Big Money wins and we lose.

Richard Thomas

Waterville