A recent opinion piece by Edward Cross has sparked reflection on the evolution of energy sources in the United States, prompting comparisons between past and present attitudes toward emerging technologies. In a letter responding to the piece, Albert Wagner of Orland Park draws a parallel between current debates over energy and historical resistance to new transportation methods.

Wagner notes that Cross’s op-ed does not address the growing prominence of renewable energy, which has become the most cost-effective form of power generation in the United States. He highlights that the article overlooks the environmental and economic consequences of continued reliance on fossil fuels, such as the increased frequency of fires, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels—effects widely attributed to climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions. Additionally, Wagner points to the ongoing issue of abandoned wells that leak greenhouse gases long after their productive use has ended.

The letter also underscores the subsidies and tax incentives that benefit the oil and gas industries, including discounted leases on public lands, which have supported fossil fuel development for centuries. In contrast, renewable energy remains relatively new, having developed significantly only in recent decades.

Wagner’s argument raises the question of which energy sector merits greater support as the foundation of America’s future energy landscape. He implies that despite the fossil fuel industry’s longstanding history, renewed focus and investment in renewable sources are essential in light of their environmental impact and the shifting economic dynamics of energy production.