HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/3/2019 Item 18, Borland
Purrington, Teresa
From:Kathy Borland <kborland7@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September 3, 2019 2:54 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:J. K. Waldsmith DVM
Subject:Clean Energy Choice Police
September 3, 2019
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council
We have done a lot of reading and research on this issue and the bottom line is you can validate any point of
view you choose to take. In other words, it is extremely complicated and difficult to understand. Here is what I
found out.
On average, a plane produces a little over 53 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO) per mile.
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In California, parked idling annually emits roughly 3 million tons of CO2* Greenhousegas
emissions from vehicles, chiefly carbon dioxide (CO2), contribute to climate change.
AIRPLANE EMISSIONS. Airplanes could generate 43 gigatonnes of planet-warming pollution through
2050, consuming almost 5 percent of the world's remaining carbon budget, according to a new Center
report. Aircraft emit staggering amounts of CO2, the most prevalent man made greenhouse gas.
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning
fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. EPA tracks total U.S. emissions by publishing the
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.Apr 29, 2
The two main byproducts of natural gas combustion are carbon dioxide and water vapor, making it an
extremely clean fuel when compared to coal and petroleum, which have higher carbon dioxide emissions, in
addition to other harmful byproducts.
Natural gas appliances have traditionally been the more efficient options, with equipment efficiencies
approaching 97% in condensing boilers and water heaters.Dec 18, 2017
Cleaner burning than other fossil fuels, the combustion of natural gas produces negligible amounts of sulfur,
mercury, and particulates. Burning natural gas does produce nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are precursors to
smog, but at lower levels than gasoline and diesel used for motor vehicles.
A gas stove is better than an electric stove in terms of total energy consumption.
My question to the council is why are you ignoring the 2 elephants in the room? Traffic congestion and increase
in jet traffic? We know the City Council and SLO Chamber of Commerce is encouraging tourism through the
building of hotels and the wine industry. The Jet Center at the airport is building a 2nd hanger because they are
encouraging private jets to land and refuel in SLO. I realize the airport is County but the City is encouraging
this activity. With increased traffic and little road improvements and increase in commercial and private jets, the
natural gas savings is a "drop in the bucket" in the big picture.
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Please reconsider and do NOT approve this proposal.
Thank you, Kathy Borland
Preserve the SLO Life
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