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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2014)
2 • The Southwest Portland Post FEATURES Dear EarthTalk: What are “dirty fuels” and why are they so called? – Bill Green, Seattle, WA The term “dirty fuels” refers to fuels derived from tar sands, oil shale or liquid coal. Just like their more conventional fossil fuel coun- terparts such as petroleum and coal, they can be turned into gasoline, diesel and other energy sources. These energy sources can gener- ate extreme amounts of particulate pollution, carbon emissions and ecosystem destruction during their lifecycles from production to con- sumption. “Because tar sands [have] more sulfur, nitrogen, and metals in [them] than conventional oil, up- grading and refining [them] causes a lot more air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” re- ports the Natural Resources Defense Council, a leading environmental non-profit. “On a lifecycle basis—that is, extraction all the way through combustion—tar sands cause about 20 percent more global warming pollution than conventional oil,” adds NRDC. “Oil shale and liquid coal are even worse, causing nearly 50 percent more global warming pollution and over double the lifecycle emissions of conventional oil…” In North America, the majority of such fuels come from Canada’s vast Boreal Forest, to where tens of millions of birds flock each spring to nest. “Tar sands oil development cre- ates open pit mines, habitat frag- mentation, toxic waste holding ponds, air and water pollution, up- graders and refineries, and pipelines spreading far beyond the Boreal forest,” reports NRDC. “This development is destroying habitat for waterfowl and songbirds that come from all over the Ameri- cas to nest in the Boreal.” Beyond impacts at the extraction sites, dirty fuels cause pollution problems all down the line. For this reason, environmental leaders are opposed to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline which, if approved and built, would transport tar sands fuels through the Midwestern U.S. to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. “Refinery communities like Port Arthur, Texas...are already unable to comply with their air pollution regulations, so dirtier fuel is the last thing they need in their refineries,” adds NRDC. And while dirty fuels may reduce our reliance on foreign oil, they won’t help reduce gas prices as they are so expensive to produce that gas prices would have to be higher than they already are in order for them to be profitable. “They also can’t help with sta- bilizing gas prices in the case of a March 2014 Environmental leaders are opposed to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Pictured: Rainforest Action Network protesters in front of the Canadian Consulate in Chicago. (Photo courtesy Rainforest Action Network) disruption to oil shipments because each new tar sands project requires huge infrastructure and capital in- vestments, so it takes years for new tar sands projects to come on-line— it’s not as though there is loads of spare tar sands oil just waiting to be put through the pipelines,” says NRDC’s Elizabeth Shope. “The fact is, we don’t need these fuels,” she adds. “We can reduce oil consumption by increasing fuel effi- ciency standards, and greater use of hybrid cars, renewable energy and environmentally sustainable biofu- els. What’s called ‘smart growth’— how we design our communities— is also a very important element in meeting our transportation needs. “North America stands at an Deeper Sedation Dentistry... Dr. Little at West Hills Family Dental Center now offers DEEP SEDATION DENTISTRY. It’s MORE EFFECTIVE than just a pill. Call and find out why West Hills Family Dental Center is different. 503-291-0000 • www.fearfreedental.com Massage Therapy •Swedish•Myo-fascialTriggerPoint•Reiki ForStressandPainRelief •TensionHeadaches•TMJDisorder•Backaches Beat the stress with a relaxing massage that will warm and comfort your aching muscles. Swedishsession$38withthisad. Giftcertificatesavailablewhilesupplieslast energy crossroads. We now face a choice: to set a course for a more sustainable energy future of clean, renewable fuels, or to develop ever- dirtier sources of transportation fuel derived from fossil fuels—at an even greater cost to our health and environment.” For more information on this subject visit www.nrdc.org. EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emaga- zine.com. well be … and well informed Bowman’s Hillsdale Pharmacy 6256 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-244-7582 • email: hdrx@pcez.com •Walk-In Adult Immunizations •Flu Shots Available Celebrating 21 Years in Business! 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336 general email: news@multnomahpost.com web address: www.swportlandpost.com Editor & Publisher: Reporters/Writers: Copy Editor: Advertising Sales: Graphic Design: Printing: Don Snedecor Lee Braymen-Cleary, Rebecca Hart, Erik Vidstrand Rich Riegel Don Snedecor, Harry Blythe Leslie Baird Design Oregon Lithoprint © 2014 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the artists and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Deadline for news and advertising is generally the 20th of the month prior to publication. Please call for current deadline information. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Post has a circulation of 7,000 in Multnomah Village and the surrounding neighborhood business districts including Burlingame, Capitol Hill, Garden Home, Glen Cullen, Hillsdale, South Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Portland and Vermont Hills. The Post is published on or about the 1st of every month. Subscriptions are $14 per year. Back issues are $2.50 each when available. All major credit cards accepted. The Post is printed on recycled newsprint using soy-based inks. Susan Ferreira, LMT, EFDA Lic 13618 8365 SW Oleson Rd, Portland, Oregon 97223 By appointment only 503-246-3324 •Experienced Compounding Pharmacists www.mygnp.com
