Saturday, February 01, 2003
The Editor
The Lethbridge Herald
Dear Editor:
Re: Ideas Lost
A series of articles in the news last week illustrates how quickly innovative ideas can be lost when some politicians start to discuss them.
The Calgary Herald published an informative article last week (Oilpatch revs up nuclear idea, Wednesday, January 29) explaining how nuclear energy could be used to generate steam needed to extract bitumen from the oilsands.
The Lethbridge Herald published a follow up Canadian Press article (Saskatchewan premier tells Alberta thanks …., Saturday, February 01) citing pros and cons of nuclear electricity plants in northern Saskatchewan and Edmonton. All relevance to the oilsands had been lost.
Producing oilsand syncrude releases a lot of greenhouse gas using current methods. New techniques need to be developed should Kyoto constraints be introduced over the coming decades. Nuclear energy is one option that is near and could essentially eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
Alberta, via our federal government, has invested considerably in the development of nuclear energy. Alberta has been foremost in oil sands research over the last half-century. These two technologies can work together to allow continuing development of our world-class oilsand resource while remaining within the constraints of Kyoto.
Alberta and Albertans need sincere serious information about legitimate ideas to deal with the Kyoto challenge. Off topic speechifying to reporters is not helpful.
Yours truly,
Duane Pendergast
cc.
The Editor, Calgary Herald