A provocative article about repurposing existing fuel pipelines to send water to Western states in the US.
Main point:
- “What if Louisiana transitioned from oil-production (a dying industry, linked to high rates of cancer) to water distribution (linked to life itself)?”
- “What if the Great Lakes were also hooked up to this transformational water-delivery system?”
More about it:
- “The eventual demise of the oil and gas industry will also leave a vast array of idle refineries, tank farms, and abandoned off-shore drilling platforms.”
- “…our [Louisiana, where the authors reside] greatest resource in the foreseeable future may be our access to fresh water.”
- “We don’t have time for the federal government to design, plan, and approve a national water pipeline.”
- “…why not repurpose the system of pipes currently distributing fossil fuels, and use it to distribute the fresh water needed to sustain life elsewhere in the country?”
Why it matters:
- “We’re living in a world of water imbalances, but it’s one that could be righted by reusing existing infrastructure in radical new ways.”
- “The eventual demise of the oil and gas industry will also leave a vast array of idle refineries, tank farms, and abandoned off-shore drilling platforms (there are about 1,900 operating in the Gulf of Mexico alone). We believe a huge part of this vast system, the continent-spanning distribution system, holds immense promise for our warming and water-starved future, especially for drought-stricken states in the West.”
Some considerations:
- Optimism about how we can replace fossil fuel-generated electricity: “It will come from you. People are already moving away from the grid and generating their own energy in their homes and businesses. From solar to wind energy, self-generation systems will put the power in your hands. You can use it to heat your home and hot water, and of course, to charge your electric car.”
- On the other hand, don’t get cocky:
- “…the electrification of transportation and other sectors will require a doubling of U.S. generation capacity.
- “A model utility with two to three million customers would need to invest between $1,700 and $5,800 in grid upgrades per EV [electric vehicle]…that investment could reach $200 billion. So far, investor-owned companies have plans approved for just $2.6 billion in charging programs and projects.”
- What would be involved in cleaning fuel pipes/containers well enough to transport/hold water?
What can young people do to prepare?