To the editor:

It appears from the Journal-World article that our representative Eileen Horn thinks that a penalty tax on hybrids and electric cars is a good idea because they are too fuel efficient and the state is losing money on gas tax.

This seems insanely backward looking to me at a time when we are trying to find ways to reduce carbon emissions and save the world from a slow-moving disaster of climate change. It also seems completely out of step with her claim to have been a “sustainability director” for the county. But then so did her attempts to preserve glaring blue-white lights which are injurious to humans and wildlife.

It is not a good idea to penalize people for making energy-efficient choices, even if you need more money for roads. Better choices are to make small increases in tolls, or add to the registration costs for all cars and trucks, with no penalty for energy efficiency. It is time to look beyond the edge of your nose and consider the broader implications of what you are doing.

Adrian Melott,

Lawrence