Re: “Face reality: We use fossil fuels,” column by Keith Sones, July 23.
After reading Mr. Sones’s opinion piece, I have to wonder if he has actually had a serious conversation with any of those who oppose Woodfibre LNG that he has clearly labeled as hypocrites? I have, and I can tell him that not one is suggesting that the world cease all fossil fuel operations today. His argument is not only extremely inaccurate, it would be comical if it weren’t so typical of too many other liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fossil fuel industry supporters.
What LNG opponents are saying is that instead of bringing on-stream new, fossil fuel-intensive projects that in the case of the B.C. government’s LNG aspirations would increase B.C.’s natural gas extraction by 400 per cent if just seven of 19 proposed LNG plants come on-stream (which will destroy any chance to meet our current CO2 reduction targets), that we look at more sustainable alternatives. Equally important is that 100 per cent of this natural gas will come from hydraulic fracturing, which comes with a host of additional risks.
The IMF has estimated that Canadian subsidies to fossil fuel efforts surpassed $30 billion in 2014 if all forgiven debt, taxes etc. are included. A small portion of this amount would greatly assist the renewable industry that grew at 18.6 per cent last year around the globe and created 7.7 million new jobs. Canada has almost completely ignored this rapidly growing economic trend, to its detriment. This is very unfortunate and it is one big reason why our dollar, trading at just above US$0.75, makes travel outside Canada increasingly expensive and lowers our standard of living.
Current government efforts with an almost single-minded focus on fossil fuel development is short-sighted and one that will put our nation and youth in the unenviable position of having to either export Canadian talent to meet the needs of a rapidly growing renewable energy market abroad and/or Canadians in the position of having to purchase renewable energy from the U.S. and equipment from abroad.
So rather than cast stones at a group Mr. Sones clearly does not understand, why not take a little time to sit down and talk to them? By the way, Squamish has an active alternative energy group, one of which is the Squamish Alternative Energy Group on Facebook.
Matt Blackman
Garibaldi Highlands
