The Need Remains for Natural Gas

The current administration is pushing hard to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. Two of the green sources being backed are lithium for batteries. The batteries are to be used for energy storage for solar-powered homes and buildings as well as electric vehicle (EV) transportation. Lithium comes from huge open pit mines and uses a large amount of water for production of a useable product.

Two of the largest mines in the world are located in the U.S. One is the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada that was listed as being the largest deposit of lithium in the U.S. The mine is owned by a Canadian company and the mine’s life span is listed as 46 years. The other mine is owned by Piedmont Lithium located in North Carolina. Its stated goal is to be the leading supplier of lithium hydroxide for the U.S. EV and storage markets in the U.S.

The use of large amounts of water to make the brine for production and large open pit mines to make this product for green energy does not sound very environmentally friendly. I wonder how the Sierra Club and the rest of them are going to handle that. If anyone wants further information they might want to look at www.lithiummine.com/lithium-mining-in-US.

The second energy source is hydrogen (H). Hydrogen and natural gas are both used as an energy source for electric fuel cells. Toyota currently has an EV car fueled by hydrogen. It can go further on a tank of fuel than a Tesla on its battery. The hydrogen tank can be refilled faster than an EV battery can be charged. And it takes less energy to do it.

There are two methods of creating hydrogen. One is electrolysis, which uses lots of electric energy to split an atom of water into hydrogen and oxygen. The other is steam-methane reforming. Both methods use a lot of natural gas to create the electricity for the electrolysis process and steam for the reforming process. Other fuels, such as oil and coal, could be used too. Natural gas reforming using steam accounts for the majority of hydrogen production in the U.S.

It looks like either way some natural gas will be used in the production of green energy. I really do not think that solar can do it all.

Tom Suter
La Crescenta

Supports Green-Space Project

I attended a CV Town Council meeting last night to hear from the LA County Parks Dept. about a proposed green-space project in La Crescenta. The project would provide safety and landscaping improvements to an existing tree-lined walking path along the county flood control channel between Two Strike Park and La Crescenta Avenue.

After the County’s presentation, it was heartening to hear many residents speak up in support of the project, describing how it would provide their children and neighbors a safe and off-street path for walking to Monte Vista Elementary School and the park, as well as providing a place to see and chat with neighbors and walk their dogs.

I was then surprised to hear a few folks say they disapproved of the proposed project, voicing a fear that this trail would somehow “bring crime and pollution” to their backyards. What confused me even more, though, was that these comments were made by people I have known as neighbors for decades. People that I know through their volunteering with the Girls Scouts, PTA, emergency response and other community-based and community-creating organizations.

My previous experience with them was that they shared my belief that you make a safe, supportive, friendly community by doing the work of and supporting programs and projects that bring people in our community together. So why would these folks not support a project like this, which would do just that: provide a beautiful, safe, green-space for friends and neighbors to come together to create community? I just don’t know, but I do hope that they come to realize this kind of project would be great for our neighborhood and come to support it.

I also hope that those of you that do support this kind of green-space project in our community will not let a few naysayers stop it. Please let the CV Town Council know by voicing your support at www.thecvcouncil.com.

Thanks!

Frank Colcord
La Crescenta 

Glendale Residents Unite to Preserve Glendale Neighborhoods  

This issue hits close to home. Sadly, the character of our 1950s neighborhood is about to be impacted by two projects directly above and below my family’s house.  

One positive effect of the recent city council meeting was Glendale residents from across the city were in solidarity for the preservation of their neighborhoods. They expressed disdain for developments that directly contradicted the city’s own codes stating that projects must be compatible in terms of size, scale and architectural design among other things.  

For hours, numerous residents and homeowner groups spoke out. They were from every area of the city, north from La Crescenta, south from Adams Hill, west from the Rancho and to the east from Chevy Chase. Clearly, residents want city staff and design review board members to enforce the city’s own development guidelines and codes.  

In 1997, due to resident complaints, the city investigated the El Tovar house and paid Attorney Shearer a $100K for a report that detailed the lack of oversight in the city. The city has developed guidelines and codes. Yet today, hillsides have new homes that do not fit in and older homes have been demolished and replaced by others almost double in size or maxed out with apartments. Even downtown Glendale is unrecognizable from just 10 years ago.  

Glendale residents want the city to preserve, not destroy, the character of Glendale. The city council, as our elected officials, must determine why the city development policys and codes are still not fully implemented or enforced and make positive changes.   

Thanks to councilmember Mr. Brotman for appointing DRB member Mrs. Smith; this was a giant positive step in the right direction for Glendale.  

Erica Passman 
Glendale