For those who are interested in the future of Minneapolis if the "preferred build" option of the "access" project is approved by the City Council, Hennepin County Commissioners, and State Legislature, read Jeffrey St. Clair's article "Cancerous Air: Born Under A Bad Sky" linked below:
http://counterpunch.org/stclair0918.html
Sure, Minneapolis is not yet like Oakland, San Francisco, LA or Atlanta, but we do not need to plan our way into the same terrible pollution box these cities have made for themselves. If we learn from their experiences, we can avoid the same mistakes.
For an even bigger perspective within which to set the transportation future of Minneapolis, and the I35W Access/Expansion Project, check out the Federal Energy Information Administration overview of energy use in our nation.
http://eia.doe.gov/ -- this is the home page. You can check out a brief introductory article, data detailing energy consumption in various forms since 1645, from 1949 to 2,000, and from 2,000 to 2025
The report states: "Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use are projected to increase from 1,559 to 2,082 million metric tons between 2001 and 2020" and "By 2025, total carbon dioxide emissions are projected to reach 2,237 million metric tons".
(To check this out, click the following link and scroll down to the paragraphs which contain the highlighted links to figures 5 and 6.)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html -- (Projections to 2025.)
http://eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/figure_7.html
>From the above chart, I read that petroleum consumption contributes about 900 million metric tons of the 2,237 metric tons of CO2 pollution in 2025, up from about 600 million metric tons (petroleum contribution) in 2,000. The DOE report also clearly states (see text of article):
Carbon dioxide emissions are higher by 14.6 million tons in 2020 in the transportation sector in AEO2003 due to projections of less improvement in vehicle efficiency and more vehicle miles traveled.
And compare projections for total greenhouse gas emissions through 2025 to those between 1980 and 2,000:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/aeotab_19.htm -projected…
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb1201.html - 1980 to 2,000
We are increasing our greenhouse gas emissions every year, putting out far more pollution in the next 20 years or so than in the last 20 years. By 2020 we will increase our fossil-fuel related pollution by 33% over 2,000.
As Atlanta has most recently found, adding highways simply increases traffic, congestion and related pollution. The way to mitigate traffic is to discourage it, and to create alternatives.
We need BRT, light rail, better in-town transit, and more active transportation alternatives within the smart "urban villages" we develop in our metro. This will reduce traffic, congestion, and pollution. It will make our metro more beautiful, healthier, and a better place to live and work. This will attract the kind of businesses we want - forward thinking and truly community-building.
There is an additional aspect of this that is worth exploring to provide the larger geopolitical context in which the I35W dialogue takes place. Check this out:
http://eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html -- (for speedy location of context of these import percentages, scroll down to the topic "energy production and imports.") Note that we currently import 55% of our oil, and that by 2025 we will need to import 68% of our oil. We currently import just under 6 million barrels a day, and by 2025 will need to import just under 10 million barrels a day.
While adding to local and global pollution, the I35W Access/Excess Project fits squarely into the Kyoto-bashing, oil-empire-building stance of the USA in geopolitics.
I urge our city, county, and state governments to consider the terrible local and global implications of the proposed I35W Access/Excess Project, and to vote to fund cleaner, smarter transportation and urban planning choices.
Oppose the I35W Access Project if you oppose increased traffic congestion, pollution, threats to public health, and the sacrifice of human blood for years to come in exchange for oil. Oppose this project if you want the USA to stand strong and proud and energy-independent.
Support smart, urban village-style development. Support a variety of clean, energy-efficient public and private transportation modes. Support the cleanest, most local energy sources possible for our city and metro area.
Walk the walk of peace and justice so that we may hold our heads high as true American patriots. We approach a season in which we will hear many songs about "peace on earth" which may be drowned out by the drums of war and calls to consume our way into heaven. The pervasive violence of our lifestyles may very well choke out peace on earth.
I hope we choose life and peace. As we make individual and collective choices for health, beauty, and peace, we can make a difference.
In hope -- Gary Hoover, King Field
