Dear Editor:
Republican neighbors, I know that it hurts but, you have to get that hook out of your jaw. I know also that you are going through the stages of grief because Trump didn't get reelected-denial, anger, despair! No amount of guns or violence will make "Dear Leader's" Big Lie, true. I listened to Cindy McCain this morning say she was so sick of the everyday news that she decided to endorse Biden and a recent poll shows 25% of Republicans did the same. The election turn out was the largest percentage wise in more than a century and that is a good thing. So stay involved, but debate policies, don't simply berate your opponents. Preserve your integrity by opening your eyes and ears, stop repeating the messages on your device, check out the facts on more than one news source, not the Trump echo chamber. There are many problems that need to be solved that need your input. Which is more important, looking after peoples needs? Or profits for political donors like Big Oil? On that note;
Regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline cancellation, President Biden only has the power to open the valve at the border. In fact the pipeline has reached Billings, MT. where there are two refineries. On Jan. 28th the Mitchell Daily Republic showed a picture of pipe stored in ND since 2017. My pipeline welder friend says this pipe should not be used because its protective covering has been exposed for too long. However, the source of corrosion in the pipe would be from within—the sand in that Tar sand crap. Alberta, is so dependent on oil sales, they don't have any sales tax, said they would finance the pipeline, but the price wouldn't cover the cost of steaming the tar out of the sand. It is so difficult to pipeline that it has to be either heated or mixed with lighter crude and the sand in it causes small leaks that are only detected when there is a pool on the surface. That's what happened to the existing Keystone in eastern SD last year. Alberta was building a pipeline to the west coast for shipment to China. They also wanted to increase their coal shipment to China, but China isn't interested in that anymore because they are looking ahead to dealing with the climate change crisis, as is Canada and the rest of the World.
Governor Noem says that the US is energy independent so why would you need to import that Tar Sand crap anyway? Fossil fuel use is 20th Century, so why the race to use it all up? Global Warming is real and it is here now! It is defined as a weather trend that is unpredictable, more extreme in temp and precipitation, and bigger winds. Forget 10 day forecasts, we had the weather events before but they happen more often now. China, the US and Canada are the leading producers of greenhouse gases. Last month at Pangman, Sask., my hometown, experienced a middle of the night wind gust of over 80mph which caused major damage. Still don't believe, ask an insurance company. Now about the concern for lost jobs over the cancelled pipeline.
A huge energy source in SD is the wind. While wind turbines are increasing, SD has 583 and rated 9th in potential energy production from wind, it is producing about 1/8 as Iowa which has 34 of SD potential. I saw an Iowa newspaper where the county commissioners are limiting their county to 51 turbines. Every 10 turbines needs a maintenance person, training offered in Mitchell, a good paying job. The turbines require little in infrastructure except access roads and power lines out. The state is more interested in turbines since they know how to collect tax from them which is safer than raising the speed limit on the interstate so you burn more fuel and produce more fuel tax. Increasing corn prices put ethanol plants, SD has 17, back in business with their good jobs. SD is debating license fees on electric cars. Last fall the CDN and Ontario govts, put up money so FOMOCO could convert vehicle production there to electric - an electric Mustang? Wind turbines can also be used to produce ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer production or mixed with a little diesel to run diesel-electric vehicles or hydrogen for hydrogen cell/electric big trucks. Guess where those GE dynamos on the top of the turbines are made? China!!! Wouldn't it be great to make more things in America Again? Now for a Feb. 21 Covid number update:
WORLD
111m cases 2.46m deaths
US
28.2m cases .5m deaths
CANADA
843k cases 22k deaths
SASK
27.5k cases 347 deaths
SD
111k cases 1863 deaths
County Deaths
Todd 29 Tripp 16 Gregory 30
Latest thoughts are, that recovered people have immunity which helps in the goal of getting to herd immunity in the world, to get us out of this pandemic trench. Vaccination is the answer worldwide and that is how smallpox and polio were eliminated. Until then masks are the best protection for yourself and those around you. My current South Dakota Magazine has a notation about battling the last pandemic the 1919 Spanish Flu where Hot Springs, SD required you to wear a "muzzle" with a $10.00 fine for non-compliance, a lot of money in 1919.
Thanks for reading and considering. Keep well.
Jim Liggett, Winner
