||| FROM JEFF STRUTHERS |||
Some years ago, the Friends of the San Juans worked to discourage the volume of coal-laden ships along the U.S.-Canadian border on their way to foreign ports. Each transiting vessel carried the risk of damage to the fragile ecology of our Islands. That risk may soon be be greatly amplified.
The energy and economic tussle between Canada and the U.S. has led Canada to seek Asian customers for its oil and gas products. Accordingly, the province of Alberta, rich in oil & gas resources, is lobbying Ottawa to approve a new oil pipeline. A much talked-about possible route would pass through the Fraser River Valley to a port near Vancouver, for shipments to customers in Asia. Carney’s schedule aims to have a decision worked out in a few months. Meanwhile, China has reportedly already offered a long-term bid for the new pipeline’s output.
Yet, within recent years, massive flooding has occurred in the Fraser River Valley. Below is drone video footage of the widespread flooding in that area. If a new oil pipeline were to pass through that area, repeat flooding could put such a new oil pipeline located there in jeopardy. Affected rivers include the Nooksack River, which flows south near Ferndale and Bellingham.
Ironically, The chokepoint in the Strait of Hormuz has, at least temporarily, reduced world dependence on oil. Still, getting off of oil will be a long, slow process for us all. Until then, the easiest-to-reach sources for our regional refineries are well-established and largely from the north (Canada and Alaska).
It seems we in SJC are about to become entangled in a fight between multiple parties on both sides of the boarder. The prospect for us seems all risk and no gain.
We’ve also got a pending deal on a modernized U.S./Canada Columbia River treaty, years in the making, waiting in the wings. We need all the hydro we can get with our warming climate and reduced snowpack.
It’s time to stop the madness and break the logjam.
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As a veteran of the coal-terminal and Trans Mountain pipeline battles, Jeff, I’d like to ask you a question: How do you suggest we “break the logjam”?
This is a decade old story. Some of the US side oil terminal plans have been blunted or stopped. The Friends of the San Juans have had a small but important impact in these complex negotiations. Protective measures to reduce the chance of oil spills into the Salish Sea have been employed. The San Juans are like a mouse scurrying in the grass beneath the feet of agitated elephants.
If the newest oil corporation greed and self-interest by China creates another pipeline, increases terminal use and multiplies tanker traffic here it will be conducted by the sovereign nation of Canada on their own lands until entering international waters. First Nation interests and clout on both sides of the border provide limited hope for modifying the worst of plans. The US State Department is the most powerful member at the table in these matters and is now (as implied in this wishful piece) frenetically ramping up renewed fossil fuel drilling, extraction, transportation and reducing pollution controls stateside is all but guaranteeing a hellish future on earth. I, too, wonder what “breaking the logjam” means in relation to the utter madness of our own nation?
Canada is being a bad neighbor, although it’s partially because of Trump’s malign presence in a federal government that is perpetually being driven by fossil fuel companies. Fortunately BC is the most progressive province of Canada and it’s possible that demand from China will be no match for local opposition when it comes to fossil fuel pipelines and export terminals.
The best thing you can do as a citizen is reduce your demand for fossil fuels. Drive less, fly less, buy less. Go electric for appliances and vehicles. With WSF burning 20 million gallons of diesel fuel per year and electric ferries still many years distant from commissioning, even your ferry rides are part of the problem.
The Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, and Prime Minster of Canada, Mark Carney, jointly announced today a commitment to a “southern route” (i.e., shipments to Asia via Vancouver), without the Premier of BC, David Eby, at the podium or in apparent agreement. The discussion from the podium suggested that a motivation was to achieve rapid regulatory approval and thereby save two years on the regulatory approval process.
We in Washington also have big electrification goals. If our nearby oil & gas sources flow to Asia and there is no deal with Canada on protecting Columbia River flows with flood protection (which relies on Canada), how is that possible? I’ve heard no proposals from our Regular Pundits, only default back-to-you questions. I’m not an advocate for any specific solution, but do recognize the failure-to-act by our elected leaders. I also see a formerly under-appreciated environmental threat. Regular Pundits, If you have a viable proposal recognizing the full current context, please tell us.
SJC is a precious, special place. It is why we come-here’s have remained as long-time residents. But, these new threats are real, though insidious in their creeping onset. We may not be able to stop or fully deflect them, but we can make our voices heard.
Jeff, I embrace your view and share your outrage. However, while passionately hoping that putting my thumb on the scale of countless conservation/preservation battles since the 1960s, my expectations have been tempered by the heat of open collusion by corporations and government to be realistic about hope for common sense and sanity regarding the natural world and the human condition.
We live in the most progressive state in the union. among the majority of residents west of the Cascades who seek belatedly to balance development with environmental protections and in the most progressive, smallest County in the state. If you have been participating in any way to slow or stop this tar sands madness while voting and decarbonizing your own life you are among the minority of modern people in the larger context that has been unfolding for 150 years. Welcome to the fight for the future where many great battles have been won but the war is clearly being lost. For me hope is no longer the solution to anything as I am still in the minority of Americans who suffer the continuous environmental wounds and understand cause and effect. I too still fight back but cannot expect to significantly alter the arc of our nations history , especially in this politically insane phase, let alone that of greatly misguided Canada.
This county is a very interesting place in troubling times but not so special as to have unrealistic expectations.
Keep caring and acting in the best interests of the natural world but temper your expectations is my advice on the eve of our deeply troubled nations 250th birthday