By Huck Fairman
Drought one summer followed by unusually heavy snows and then a rain storm and hurricane that shut down the town. This isn’t Africa, Texas, Siberia or Pakistan, but Princeton. New Jersey. With heavy flooding to our south and north.
What can be done? Scientists tell us to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, which trap the heat. Without that, everything changes, as we’re beginning to see.
A number of local individuals, organizations and businesses are doing just that. This column will share their many ideas and innovations and will offer steps the interested can take.
One technology most of us use and many could change is the gasoline-powered automobile and truck. Increasingly, there are electric car options available.
For instance, Phil and Kyra Duran of Lawrenceville bought their electric car, a Chevy Volt, a year ago. He says it’s the best car he’s ever owned. It accelerates impressively, holds the road, is well-made and is cheap to run.
She uses it to commute daily into Trenton and never uses any gas. They charge their car using electricity from their own solar panels. He points out that even owners charging electric cars from their local utility company’s power should pay, on average, $1.50 per day, a lot less than gasoline costs.
And he’s happy that he will never again be dependent on imported oil, having lived through the 1973 oil embargo. In fact, he’d like to see the nation wean itself from its dependency on fossil fuels.
He’s also eager to point out that the Volt is fun to drive, and, nationwide, is number one in customer satisfaction.
Jay Fox, from south of Bordentown, drove up to Hamilton’s Haldeman Nissan to order his Nissan Leaf. He decided on this car after doing thorough research on the Leaf website for California owners, where it won their praise.
Available out there for some time, it is just now reaching New Jersey dealers in quantity.
Jay decided on a Leaf for a number of reasons.
(1.) It will save him money, enabling him to make his 20-mile daily New Jersey commute at minimal cost.
(2.) He figures these savings will pay for the car in about four years.
(3.) He likes the fact the car produces no emissions. He feels that this is important with the carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere rising.
(4.) He feels the car is well-made, handles well, and has a high safety rating, important to him because his teenage daughter has just gotten her permit, and this is the car he wants her to drive, when he’s not at work.
(5.) In addition to the operation savings, Jay was swayed by the $7,500.00 rebate he received and by the additional savings of having to pay no N.J. sales tax on the purchase.
He points out that the installation of the charging system in his garage cost about $2,000, but he maintains he is nonetheless pleased with his choice, and the recharging system will be there for his next electric car.
Drive Route 1 at rush hour; there is no end of cars.
If, over the next few years, enough drivers switch to hybrid or electric cars, we should be able to lower emissions, lower temperatures and save money.
Otherwise, the predictions are that these things will continue marching the other way.
Huck Fairman is a local writer who in the course of researching another project was confronted by the overwhelming evidence that we are changing the earth’s environment. And that will affect life as we have known it. He hopes to present the many good local responses to this situation that are already underway.

