EDITOR,
I was at the Woodfibre LNG open house on Feb. 15 at the Executive Suite Hotel. What a slick but thoughtful effort to win the goodwill of Squamish for their project - lots of information and knowledgeable people and of course, some would say, the best of the best spin doctors!
I am always intrigued by their presentations and that they firmly believe in their message to be broadcast and as I had been invited to one of there mini meetings one-on-one... I think that was a good effort and again, well handled by the handlers.
Now, in a public meeting, one would expect that there would be a question-and-answer period, but maybe I left too early and must say I had some pleasant and interesting conversions with some higher-ups. But unfortunately there were no firm commitments on some of the questions and with replies well meaning, but no real dates or facts that were easily research-able. Now I like to do my job that I am best at and really, to talk on and on, is not my most pleasant pastime. Even so, all I had talked to, very likeable people and well-meaning but not committing on any important questions. The door will be shut soon and we have to live with the decisions made by some and not necessary in the best of all people's interests.
LNG... Is Squamish ready for it now? Let's have CNG first, for domestic and transportation use. Everywhere it is requested, the availability of the raw gas in principle already abundantly in existence in Alberta. For domestic heating and transportation, it's much more environmentally friendly than gasoline and/or diesel. It should be made available to everybody at affordable cost for vehicle use, obtainable from a dispenser, like cars now from a gas pump (CNG pumping station hopefully to come), to fill up locally, starting here in Squamish, eventually developing a CNG Highway system throughout Canada, with future LNG add-on, at great savings.
I believe the DOS should take the ball and run with it for a bit... there are already quite a few questions brought up by the public that actually stunned the Woodfibre LNG team a bit... like the firemen who said, "we only have a staff of five full-time in Squamish and no fire boat."
I am with a group - you might call us "Squamish Safety Concerned Citizens" -that believes the safety of the gas line should be addressed first and many more resulting questions with it.
Hans Schaer
Squamish
