The case for biofuels; New York Lottery and education funding

Biofuels a sensible choice at this time

There is no silver bullet that will solve our energy/environment issues without a downside, too.

“Push for cleaner fuels” News, Feb. 16] noted issues with biofuels despite their many advantages but not the issues with renewables like wind and solar.

For instance, renewables need huge battery storage — and will need even more as artificial intelligence and other computer advances suck up more electricity. But there are minerals to be mined and transported, expired batteries to be disposed of, huge turbine blades to be smelted and transported, and esthetic considerations, as well.

And the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine, but biofuels are always available.

Biofuels offer a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as a practical bridge to the more widespread use of renewables. We indeed need an all-of-the above approach to energy.

Lee Zeldin, the newly appointed Environmental Protection Agency administrator, noted that Americans want a choice on fueling their vehicles and heating their homes. Biofuels are a sensible choice for now.

— Rocco J. Lacertosa, Hauppauge

The writer is the New York State Energy Coalition CEO.

Lottery draws a lot, but where’s impact?

In 1967, when the New York Lottery began, we were told that it would fund schools. Visit the state government lottery site, and it says that $3.8 billion was generated for public education for the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, with $273 million given to Suffolk County and $220 million to Nassau County.

It also says that $86 billion has been contributed in the past 58 years to more than 700 state school districts.

Meanwhile, Long Island’s school taxes keep increasing and some face reductions in services [“Hempstead schools eye cuts,” News, Feb. 13].

Why do schools have any money problems when recent Lotto jackpots have been in the billions of dollars? Are some profits going into a general fund?

— Barbara Hansen, Smithtown