Natural gas supply depleting

It will take time, much money and political will to transition to a way of life less and less dependent on greenhouse gas-producing fuels. Why not start now while society has the wealth of existing supplies of gas and oil to afford the expense of development?/

By Rob Southcott
Powell River Peak

Natural gas is taken for granted, and British Columbians benefit from it greatly through the creation of heat for homes and hot water, and food too. It's the raw material for most fertilizer used in North America. One recent study estimates that without oil and gas, the agricultural-carrying capacity of the earth's population would be two billion people. Liquefied natural gas (LNG), on the other hand, is probably new to most people. But its advent and proposed import signals a turning point in history I feel should not be ignored.

Why import natural gas? The peak of North American domestic reserves has been passed. That means the reserves are half used up. The second half won't last as long as the first and won't be as easy to extract. Increasing demand will exceed decreasing domestic supply. Incidentally, sweet light crude oil reserves that North Americans have become phenomenally dependent on are expected to peak internationally within the next few years, if they haven't already. The peak of international natural gas reserves is expected to be 20 years away. Wasn't it only 25 years ago that the belief was there were centuries of natural gas in the ground?

This means eventual shortages unless consumption changes. As prices have risen, LNG, which is 600 times more compact than natural gas, has become more economical to import, which may allow the extravagant consumption to continue. Or, efforts may begin in earnest to develop sustainable energy sources. It would be good for the next generation if alternative infrastructures were in place before there is a crisis in domestic supply, or crisis due to international competition. There is broad familiarity with competition for oil in the Middle East.

The United States has been an importer since 1971.

Why not start now while society has the wealth of existing supplies of gas and oil to afford the expense of development? It will take time, much money and political will to transition to a way of life less and less dependent on greenhouse gas-producing fuels.

Can Canadians afford to procrastinate? How could Canadians, in all conscience, fail to prepare adequately for inevitable depletion of these non-renewable energy resources that are so profoundly depended upon? This doesn't even take into consideration the effects of greenhouse gases, which hopefully will be survived.

LNG storage, such as the Terasen project on Vancouver Island announced last week, would seem judicious management of a precious resource. Importing it as Westpac proposes, aside from presenting big environmental questions both for transport and burning it for electricity, invites dangerous procrastination. It is important to choose well while choices can be made, and to pressure governments to support and allow only development that assures the future for children.

Rob Southcott recently moved back to Powell River with his wife and son. A paramedic with the BC Ambulance service, Southcott is pleased to be back in his hometown after 30 years away.