The headline for Stephen Fox’s Jan. 30 guest column was bleak: “Just not ready for clean energy future.” I was encouraged, though, that he called himself a climate change believer and conservationist. Then I read on and was discouraged by outdated and misleading information.

I agree with Mr. Fox that scientists, politicians, and conservationists “all must work together for the common good without scolding or fear-mongering.” Why, then, write about LNG trucks on “local roads alongside your kids’ school bus”?

A report from the U.S. Department of Transportation is somewhat reassuring. It states that in the past 45 years, over 300,000 LNG truck trips have been made from the Everett import facility to 42 New England storage facilities. Only two incidents have occurred, a truck rollover and a truck engine fire. No LNG was released in either case.

But I’m not saying LNG is safe. Nor are gas pipelines, which the column implies we should prefer. Remember Sept. 13, 2018: Columbia gas lines caused explosions and fires in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence, sending 30,000 residents rushing to evacuate and leaving two dozen injured, one dead.

And don’t forget gas leaks. They threaten public health and the climate. A 2024 Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities report states that gas distribution companies and municipal gas operators reported a total of 22,531 leaks on the gas distribution system in 2023.

Now am I the one fear-mongering? My point is, let’s make the transition to our clean energy future ASAP!

Linda Butler

Leeds