Editor:
Having attended the public fixed link presentation in Powell River, I wondered if it had occurred to anyone involved what the GHG emissions implications might be. There was mention in the literature of “environmental impacts,” but nothing in the way of specifics at what appears to be an information gathering stage. A fairly simple calculation involving Queen of Surrey diesel fuel consumption for one crossing to Langdale, as opposed to what a representative load of vehicles would consume in gasoline, revealed an approximate tripling of emissions on a point A to point B trip via the proposed fixed link through Squamish and Port Mellon. Of course this estimate involves a number of variables, but there is little doubt that the increase in fuel consumption would be significant and warrants some further investigation. It certainly makes better ferry service the more attractive option in light of current climate change concerns.
William Lytle-McGhee Powell River
