RECHECKING THE FACTS
To the Editor,
This letter is in response to Mr. Aderman’s letter of last week. I appreciate Mr. Aderman pointing out that although Global Warming is most certainly of concern, however, we must temper our apprehension with scientific fact and common sense.
As a scientist that has worked in the fossil fuel industry for over 40 years, I have seen the changes of both our environment and to those industry leaders that realize the industrial impact on our environment.
Let’s begin with natural C02 emissions.
In 2008, we witnessed the cataclysmic eruption of Mount St. Helens. This eruption released more C02 into the atmosphere that the total C02 released by the United States as an industrialized nation.
Looking through out geologic history, environmental impacts are very cyclic in nature. Dating back 10,000 years to the Kansan Ice Age, global temperatures were lower. During the time of the Dinosaur, global temperatures were higher. These types of cycles have been scientifically proven to exist on as short as a seven year cycle.
However, has “man” impacted our environment on a worldwide basis? Most assuredly. Yet, we are also making strides to improve the current conditions.
In 2019 the U.S. reduced C02 emissions by 2.9 percent
Over the past 10 years 58 fossil fuel burning Power Plants have been closed nationwide, including Big Brown, here in Freestone County, costing hundreds of jobs, including my job.
These closures represent millions of tons of CO2 emissions that no longer enter our air. No additional fossil fueled power plants are currently scheduled to be built in the United States.
The last coal fired power plant was built in 1985 right here in Freestone/Leon County.
Vehicle emissions now contribute 29 percent of the emissions introduce into our air, down from 36 percent over the last 10 years, due primarily to increased engine efficiency. These emissions are to be reduced by an additional 10 percent by 2026.
Concern has been expressed over the number of hurricanes this year. Yes, the Gulf waters are a bit warmer this year. However, please note that in 2005 only one less hurricane occurred and the warmth of the Gulf waters was within 1 degree of the waters this past summer.
This past winter the upper Midwest, in particular North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin experience the 3 rd coldest and snowiest winter in recorded history.
However, the environmental situation is worldwide and we must look at a consortium of world leaders to take serious action to keep us on an improving path. It is simply not just the United States.
China has made a commitment that, over the next 10-year period that it’s total population will have access to electric power and currently has plans to build 1,100 GIGAwatts of new generation that will be 100 percent coal fired and largely with no emissions standards or control. Considering each unit at Big Brown was about 750 Megawatts one can easily see how many units this will be. (1,000 megawatts = 1 gigawatt)
Vietnam, with China’s help is planning to build an additional 15 power plants over the next 10 years, again all with no emission controls.
India currently produces 238 GIGAwatts of electricity from fossil fuel generation, with an expected increase of 60 percent over the next 3 years. And yes, largely with no emissions control or standards.
World Wide environmental emissions control needs to be achieved.
Regardless of how, we as readers, view the current world wide environmental situation, let’s be sure we look at facts, not conjecture.
It is our responsibility to be good stewards of our environment and that begins with understanding the facts at hand.
Sincerely, Mark P. Palmquist CPGS #6339