Much work to be done on a global scale
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
I couldn’t help but think of the responses the Times Colonist may receive from those who don’t like what Gwyn Morgan said and don’t like him, just because.
Remember the Pantene commercial from the 1980s? The model saying “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful”? In this case it would be “Don’t hate me because I am right.”
Many people in the resource industry believe, as do I, in climate change and we all need to do what we can to change the way we live.
I spent my career working in the energy business, which included oil and gas but also renewables. Morgan is correct in his description of the resources and the effort to develop renewables and the benefits of natural gas over coal.
If the world’s energy producers developed their resources the way Canada does, it has been shown that world GHG emissions would drop by 23 per cent.
Let’s all work on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for starters, but not advocate for a full stop. That’s not going to happen.
Let’s learn and support the ingenuity within our fossil-fuel industry at the same time while carbon is captured and sequestered, profits used to develop renewables and Canada’s resources such as natural gas are used to replace thermal coal in not only China but also developing countries.
This is about the world and not a local issue. I’ve travelled and seen where charcoal is traded for chickens in East Africa and oil exploration is happening in “protected” national parks and oil is transported by tankers sitting precariously on barges moving down a river in the Amazon.
We have a ways to go, everyone, and we need to work together and level the playing field across the globe. Let’s educate ourselves and also share our science and ingenuity to the world and not cut off our own global nose in spite of our global face.
Ron Vermeulen
Victoria
Nothing independent about U.S. think tank
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
I can only assume Gwyn Morgan has seen the same dumbed-down PowerPoint presentation on alternative energies, authored by the Manhattan Institute, that is spreading like wildfire among my Alberta friends.
It contains demonstrable facts as well as outrageous truth twisting. That is the MO of the Manhattan Institute: distract the reader from the essence of findings agreed to by the vast majority of expert scientists on a given topic, to plant the seed of doubt.
This is not the healthy questioning we should all do every day when reading the news. Rather, this questioning is intended as misdirection.
In the 1990s, with substantial financial support from the Reynolds Tobacco Company, scientists at the institute rightly condemned the methodology of a study that found secondhand smoke harmful.
The flaws they found were, indeed, flaws. But the message they sent out was out of context, and in no way diminished the fact that smoking is harmful to your health.
It is a matter of public record that the Manhattan Institute has for some time received substantial donations from ExxonMobil and from the Koch brothers. It’s Big Tobacco all over again. There is nothing independent, as Morgan claims, about this far-right conservative think-tank.
Solange Meilleur
Oak Bay
Courage, conviction in Morgan’s words
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
Thank goodness for clear-thinking socially responsible editorialists like Gwyn Morgan for keeping us abreast of our complicated energy needs in both developed and developing countries.
He has courage, conviction and knowledge on his side, unlike many of his critics who cherry-pick information to suit their needs.
We should be so lucky to have informed commentators like Morgan to explain complicated issues in layman’s terms. I also applaud his willingness to face criticism under fire from many sides in pursuit of important discussions that will greatly affect our collective futures on this planet. Let’s give Morgan the benefit of the doubt and listen more closely to his practical suggestions instead of unfairly tearing him down, for often self-serving reasons.
Nick Gudewill
Victoria
Wind, solar power plants will last for decades
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
I am surprised a person with Gwyn Morgan’s intellect has not thought through the benefits of wind and solar power.
I cannot dispute his figures on the amount of resources necessary to build wind and solar power generation. However, once they are built, they generate clean, efficient electricity for decades.
Natural gas generation, on the other hand, spews carbon into the atmosphere every hour and simply adds to our huge problem.
Is this not the case?
David Vernon
Oak Bay
We cannot wait for a perfect solution
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
Gwyn Morgan’s commentary reminds us that generating electricity by burning natural gas will emit much less carbon dioxide than by burning coal. Displacing coal is not a perfect solution, but it’s a great improvement on what we do now.
In a situation like this, where the good is the enemy of the best, I am reminded of the development of radar before the Second World War.
Sir Robert Watson-Watt knew that what he had was imperfect, but he said: “Give me the third-best technology. The second-best won’t be ready. The best will never be ready.”
That mindset gave the Royal Air Force a functioning technology in time for the Battle of Britain.
We are not going to defeat climate change if we wait for a perfect solution. Let’s do what we can with the available technology while we wait for perfection.
Rob Riddett
Saanich
Trust scientists to find solutions
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
Another inconvenient truth is that Gwyn Morgan is a problem-identifier; not a problem-solver.
Other than his conclusion that we can only be saved by natural gas consumption, presumably only as long as it lasts, leaves us pondering a doomsday scenario.
Let’s hope that our global scientific community can find creative, world-saving solutions to the climate change meteor heading towards our lonely planet. Unlike Morgan, I am betting it can!
John Stevenson
Victoria
Bring civil discourse to the energy discussion
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
How refreshing to read Gwyn Morgan’s clear information outlining the truth about the costs of wind and solar power. Too often this issue is presented as a black and white picture of oil and gas equals bad, green energy equals good.
However, the whole question is more nuanced and complicated than good vs. bad and requires far more civil discourse than it’s presently afforded.
I understand the urgency of global warming and how important it is for our country to do everything in our power to reduce greenhouse emissions, but there is very little attention paid to the concomitant costs of building batteries and constructing windmills.
It’s too easy for politicians to come down on the side of doing away with the entire oil and gas industry without considering the implications of that to workers in the field, the enormous complications of depending only on renewable energy, and not say a word about how to retool the industry.
I appreciate Morgan’s cost breakdown and the appeal for our federal and provincial governments to support natural gas as a viable and valuable energy source.
Nancy Buan
Mill Bay
We need fast work to fight climate change
Re: “Facing the inconvenient truth about wind and solar power,” commentary, Sept. 25.
Gwyn Morgan points out that natural gas has a lower density of GHG than coal, while wind and solar power have GHG costs.
While this is true, slowing the race to major environmental disasters is not the solution we need. Only carbon sequestration, at a rate greater than our rate of carbon production, can save us.
There is ongoing work at injecting CO2 deep enough that it will remain sequestered, but the chance of this proceeding at a rate sufficient to mitigate our problems is slight.
Reforestation helps, as does protection of peat bogs and other sinks for plant products, but if rotting and burning of waste plant material could be achieved on a large scale, that would be our ticket to salvation.
New Carboniferous, anyone?
Chas Low
Victoria
A slippery slope could hurt health care
I have a few comments given the rhetoric in the letters to the editor these past few months.
First, when people are scared they confirm their own biases and turn into bullies filled with hate and judgment. And that goes for both sides.
Second, the sanctimony on display in society is appalling. Don’t forget that there will always be someone or something holier than you.
Third, and pardon my cynicism, but why do we still cling to the belief that politicians care about us? They care about getting elected or re-elected so that they can support their family and their friends. To think they care about your health and well-being is foolish. If you don’t believe me, then please tell me why we just had an election.
Fourth, before the pandemic, we touted Scandinavia for being one of the best places on Earth. Well, Sweden, Denmark and now Norway have all removed their COVID restrictions. How should we view those countries now?
Fifth, people no longer understand what the term “universal health care” means.
If you start trying to pick and choose who gets what based on particular circumstances, you’ll find yourself on a slippery slope, and before long we’ll have our own “pre-existing conditions” fiasco just like they do in the States.
John Herlaar
Saanich
Pizza and ambulance? No valid comparison
Comparing the ambulance service response time to a pizza delivery is, at best, absurd. I suggest anyone who believes this B.S. to call them both at 3 a.m. and see who gets there first.
Even if the pizza were to arrive before the ambulance, I doubt very much if a pizza delivery has ever saved anyone’s life.
Doug Poole
Courtenay
Dangerous lives and free health care
A recent letter suggested cancelling free medical care for the unvaccinated.
I assume the letter meant to expand the proposal and cancel free medical care for all residents that choose an unapproved dangerous lifestyle.
Such as unvaccinated children, fat people, alcoholics, drug abusers, people wearing turbans instead of helmets on motorcycles, backwood hikers and climbers, attempted suicides, criminals, protesters, speeders, careless and dangerous drivers and illegal immigrants.
This will save B.C. millions of dollars.
Robert Gardner
Sooke
High praise indeed for health-care staff
I won’t bore everyone with the backstory, but I’ve had cause to visit the Royal Jubilee Hospital quite a bit during the summer and I felt the need to praise every single person I had contact with during each of my visits.
From the greeters at the front door, to the admission staff, to the technicians, nurses, doctors, right down to the cleaning staff; you are all amazing!
Everyone is friendly, helpful, patient and kind. After what they have all been through since the start of this pandemic, it’s astounding how they’ve managed to stay so wonderful.
I want to thank you all for all that you’ve done for me and everyone. You all deserve a medal (or at least a raise). Those who protested at the hospitals should be ashamed of themselves.
The people inside, looking after everyone, are angels.
Diane Ball
James Bay
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