The fossil fuel industry is dying. It’s that simple. We need refined products for a decade or so, through the transition to other energy sources, but that is it.
Polls in the PQB News are interesting, but should not be construed as a tool for policy direction. Heck, I could go on line from anywhere in the world east of B.C. and use my “for or against” answer. It really means nothing.
What needs to be understood is that it is getting expensive, from exploration to development and refining. Like beaver pelts, all things have their time and fossil fuels will be replaced. Is the possibility of a statistically known spill of crude, either in the Fraser or the Salish Sea, financially worth it for a dying industry which will be irrelevant in 25 years? Because the result of a spill will not be rectified for centuries.
With our abundance of electricity in the B.C. it is time to go all electric from autos, transit, container movers (check out San Pedro), BC Ferries (they are doing it in Washington State), and put charging station everywhere. Today, many countries are over 90 per cent renewable and we are still talking abut shipping diluted bitumen overseas?
One of our biggest problems is building a modern, low-emission refinery for domestic use that can recoup its construction costs in under 20 years.
I know we need work, but good-paying jobs come in many fields. Look at what is happening in Norway and how they have already taken their funds from the oil industry and diversified. We have to get rid of this wild west Texas mentality.
I hope it works out for future generations but with our short-term planning and “next quarter” mentality, I must stress the word “hope.”
Bob Tritschler
Parksville
