A case for owning an electric vehicle
As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution, and the growing impacts of climate change, one solution is becoming increasingly clear — the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
Electric cars offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. By producing zero tailpipe emissions, they reduce air pollution and improve public health, especially in urban areas where smog and poor air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
When you factor in that EVs cost 50% to 60% less to fuel, and with fewer moving parts, requires far less maintenance than internal combustion engines, eliminating oil changes and frequent brake replacements, the total cost of ownership is now
a clear win for the consumer.
Advances in battery technology have extended driving ranges, while the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure is making electric vehicles more convenient than ever.
Many governments and utilities offer incentives that make the transition more affordable.
Owning an electric car is not just a personal choice; it is a meaningful step toward a more sustainable future.
Jon Miller
East El Paso
True security comes from reducing nuclear risks, not escalating them
As the world marks the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, we are reminded that the Atomic Age began not only in Japan, but just a few hours from here at the Trinity Site. These anniversaries invite reflection — and challenge us to consider what nuclear risk means today for communities like El Paso, communities shaped by military service, binational public health and environmental justice concerns.
That is why Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, should cosponsor H.R. 317, a congressional resolution that does far more than maintain the moratorium on nuclear testing. It calls on the United States to actively pursue a world free of nuclear weapons as a national security imperative, recognizing that true security comes from reducing nuclear risks, not escalating them.
The resolution also supports strengthening and expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), acknowledging the federal government’s responsibility to communities harmed by past nuclear activities — including many in New Mexico whose lives remain affected.
For Fort Bliss families, a shared El Paso–Juárez air basin, and communities already carrying environmental burdens, this matters. Honoring Hiroshima and Nagasaki means committing to a safer future. Supporting H.R. 317 would allow Escobar to honor our history while helping ensure a more just, stable and secure future.
Connie Crawford
West El Paso
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: LETTERS: Why electric vehicles are a smart financial choice
