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Take Charge: Dirty Work in AlbertaBy Morgan Goodwin - August 26, 2008
Take Charge Campaign
This newsletter is provided by the Take Charge Campaign, a local initiative to encourage and to help people to conserve energy. It is published twice a month.
This week in Dirty Energy: Alberta Tar Sands
What's happening in the Alberta tar sands in Canada is the most destructive project on Earth, according to Environmental Defence. Thousands of square miles of tundra are being scraped away to harvest an oil-rich layer of earth between 10 and 80 feet deep.
These tar sands, or oil sands, are too dirty and difficult to extract when the price of oil is low. But as the price per barrel rises, companies are able to go to further lengths to extract energy.
There is a lot of oil (and other fossil fuels) left on Earth. According to Cambridge Energy Research Associates, the global inventory is some 4.8 trillion barrels, of which about 1.08 trillion barrels have been produced, leaving 3.72 trillion conventional and unconventional barrels.
The problem is, as with tar sands, that we've already gotten all the easy and cheap stuff. The rest of it has and will continue to experience steeply increasing extraction costs, environmental costs, refining costs, exploration costs and most frighteningly, climate costs. These combine to present a very strong case for why, as a society, we need to get away from the stuff.
 Unfortunately, those societal concerns have done nothing to stop the oil-rush occurring without public scrutiny in Alberta. Here's what we can expect from the exploitation of the Alberta tundra for oil:
Oil sands mining is licensed to use twice the amount of fresh water that the entire city of Calgary uses in a year.
At least 90 percent of the fresh water used in the oil sands ends up in ends up in tailing ponds so toxic that propane cannons are used to keep ducks from landing.
Processing the oil sands uses enough natural gas in a day to heat 3 million homes.
The toxic tailing ponds are considered one of the largest human-made structures in the world. The ponds span 50 square kilometers and can be seen from space.
Producing a barrel of oil from the oil sands produces three times more greenhouse gas emissions than a barrel of conventional oil.
In Our Community:
Energy Councilor training: Saturday, Sept. 6, from 1 to 5:30
Are you interested in helping promote energy efficiency in the community? This training will give you the information you need to help you and others save money on utility bills. We will discuss the facts of home heating systems and electric systems, how to get the most out of appliances and improvements, as well as info on the resources and assistance available.
This training is for anyone who wants to be more informed on energy, who is interested in talking to groups about energy, or wants to volunteer in the fall. RSVP to Goodwin at morgan.goodwin@gmail.com or to the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition at 413-663-7588. Light refreshments will be provided. Child care and transportation available as needed — let us know.
Bosley's Energy Forum: Wednesday, Sept 3, 5 to 8.
State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, will host a forum on home-heating assistance at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center in North Adams. It will consist of several speakers from various government organizations and private companies that service the Northern Berkshire region. This event is open to public. If you wish to speak or provide information at a booth register by Wednesday, Aug. 27, by contacting Daniel Hunt at 617-722-2370 or at Daniel.hunt@state.ma.us.
Green Jobs Now Event: TBD!
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing's office is working to organize an event in conjunction with Green For All, a national group advocating for job creation as an energy solution. Green Jobs Now aims to raise awareness for green jobs training - mostly for minority populations and those living in poverty. The senator would like to have this day focus on the potential for such training in the Berkshires, tout local green businesses, and educate participants on how they can prepare for the coming winter by reducing their energy consumption. The event will likely be on Sept. 27. Read more!
North Adams Energy Group Meeting: Thursday, Aug 28, 3:30
The Take Charge campaign is organized by an ad-hoc citizens group. We meet on the third floor of the North Adams Public Library. This week's meeting will focus on how to continue the program through the fall and winter. All are welcome to join. Contact Goodwin with questions.
We've had successful events in the last few weeks. More than 300 people have pledged to Take Charge. An article in iBerkshires is here and an editorial I wrote here. (This editorial will be archived after a certain time.)
Good luck saving energy!
Morgan Goodwin is the Take Charge Project intern at Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. He can be reached at 413-663-7588 or morgan.goodwin@gmail.com. |
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