In letters: Trump’s ‘overheated rhetoric’ and the Diablo Canyon ‘gravy train’ | Opinion

Trump’s ‘utter nonsense’

In his recent speech to the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Washington, D.C., President Trump said the Democratic Party is “becoming a Communist party – not social Democrats. They are core communists.”

Trump told the Road to Majority Conference that Democrats, especially progressive members of the party, “want to resume the transgender mutilation of children, they want to restart the war on Christians and churches, and as you saw with the communists elected in New York recently … they want to completely destroy the traditional American way of life.”

Those statements are false and offensive. To be sure, the three progressive Democrats who won primaries in New York hold far-left views. But to extend ideas of a handful to the entire Democratic Party is utter nonsense.

Contrary to Trump’s overheated rhetoric, Democrats are patriotic, taxpaying, America-loving citizens. They go to church, support capitalism and oppose communism.

However, Democrats can also be guilty of using inflammatory words.

Tom Fulks, chair of the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party, told fellow Democrats earlier this month that their party needs to “eradicate MAGA from every corner of our democracy.”

Fulks meant to rid politics of Make America Great Again ideology, nothing more.

But Randall Jordan, chair of the SLO County’s Republican Party, took Fulks to task for his remark. Jordan wrote that “political opponents should seek to persuade one another, not ‘eradicate’ one another.”

Jordan rightly wants to lower the temperature of political speech. He should not just jump on Fulks, but first address his party’s leader – President Trump.

Tad Weber

Atascadero

Diablo ‘gravy train’

Thanks for your editorial admonishing our Board of Supervisors for pointless cheerleading about Diablo Canyon’s potential extension to 2045. Sure, it’s a cash cow for the local economy. But how long will statewide ratepayers be willing to pay the above-market costs for our gravy train?

Diablo Canyon continues to fail, by a very large margin, to recover its operating costs from the California Independent System Operators (CASIO) market revenues it receives for its electrical output. PG&E now forecasts a $595 million deficit for 2027, bringing the cumulative shortfall since November 2024 to $1.7 billion.

After the CPUC corrected its Market Price Benchmark methodology for valuing system reliability capacity, PG&E’s forecast for Diablo Canyon’s cumulative capacity value during extended operations declined by more than 72%, from $5.9 billion to $1.6 billion. Even assuming this notional, non-cash benchmark could be monetized, these reduced capacity benefits are insufficient to offset the operating revenue deficits.

In October 2024, PG&E projected a cumulative net financial benefit from Diablo Canyon’s extended operation through 2030 of nearly $4.1 billion. In March 2026 it calculated a cumulative net financial cost through 2030 of $825.8 million. That’s nearly a $5 billion swing!

Using PG&E’s numbers, Diablo Canyon’s greenhouse gas emission reductions cost more than $76 per metric ton, two-and-a-half times the current price in California’s cap-and-trade market. If the supes want to keep this gravy train rolling, they best keep a lower profile.

Rochelle Becker

Grover Beach

Time to set aside differences

It’s a sad fact that the vitriol caused by political, religious or cultural biases is tearing our country apart. This is the perfect time in our history to once again put aside our differences and treat our fellow human beings with the sort of love that is supposed to make the world go round.

It makes sense that when establishing relations with other humans, one first searches for commonality and avoids discussing sensitive issues. When complete respect between the parties has been established, then civil debate between friends can occur. Ideally, the argument ends with the same amity between friends as it began. Passion can be tempered by reason.

My neighbors happen to be wonderful people who help us whenever we are in need. We try to do the same for them. I have no idea what their political views are and couldn't care less if they differ radically from mine. I respect their right to have them.

Washington could learn from such an example. Perhaps our three branches of government could return to the civility and decorum that once made them effective and respected governing bodies.

Tom Bauer

Morro Bay

What a gas

About your article “Pumps at 63 SLO County gas stations flagged for problems. See which ones”: It’s fascinating that some stations were dispensing more gasoline than they were supposed to.

But I was curious about this paragraph:

“For example, if a pump dispenses more than six cubic inches — roughly equivalent to the amount of liquid in a double shot of espresso — when five gallons are measured, it could be found out of order.”

First, I have only the vaguest idea of how much a double shot of espresso is. But six cubic inches would be a cube about 1.8 inches to a side. So there’s a problem if a pump puts out more than a fistful when it says you’re pumping 5 gallons?

Ed Rush

Atascadero

Standing up for offshore wind

Thank you, California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild and Attorney General Ron Bonta for announcing the state’s intent to sue over the Trump administration’s offshore wind lease buybacks.

It’s no secret that California needs more electricity. Diablo Canyon will not operate forever. We have a great opportunity to tap a new renewable and clean energy source with offshore wind. The California State Lands Commission estimates 25 gigawatts of electricity can be produced by 2045. For comparison, Diablo Canyon produces 18 gigawatts per year.

In addition, offshore wind represents a once-in-a-generation economic and jobs opportunity, bringing good-paying jobs and a new, long-term revenue stream to SLO county.

In the face of these benefits, and clean energy needs, the Trump administration brokered back-room deals using taxpayer money to buy back contracts to build out offshore wind n the Central Coast. To make matters worse, the two leaseholders to take the buyouts are indicating their new investment will be in fossil fuel extraction in the Gulf Coast.

How in the world does California benefit from this? Obviously we don’t and I applaud our state for taking a stand to correct this injustice.

Craig Graugnard

San Luis Obispo