I just read the Jan. 30 Leader and there are two corrections I’d like to suggest regarding two letters to the editor.
First, Frank G. Sterle Jr. is suggesting oil pipelines are vulnerable to earthquakes. This is certainly a risk. However, the Alaska oil pipeline was built to withstand an 8.0-magnitude earthquake and during the 2002 Alaska quake, only minor damage was reported. It is possible to minimize the risk of earthquakes in pipeline design.
Second, Fred Perry is not quite right on his physics and there is no trick here, if you factor oxygen in.
The basic equation is 12g C + 32g O2 = 44g CO2. So, in theory, 12g of carbon makes 44g of CO2 – or 3.66 times the pollution by mass.
This aside, we are running out of easy oil and gas to extract and we have a major job ahead to find cleaner and economical energy sources.
We have a worldwide problem and we have to think big and locally also.
Peter Crisp, P.Eng.
Surrey