Letters: CO2 pipelines are not an energy solution. They’re a way for fossil fuel companies to make money.

Charles McConnell’s Aug. 18 op-ed (“CO2 pipelines in Illinois are a safe investment for the future”) falsely depicts carbon capture technology and carbon dioxide pipelines as the answer for delivering reliable and affordable energy in an environmentally responsible manner. In actuality, carbon capture technology and CO2 pipelines are being used by the fossil fuel industry to perpetuate the further production of fossil fuels. Carbon capture technology and CO2 pipelines are hardly the solutions to Illinois’ need to decarbonize industry and transportation modes if the state is to meet the challenge of the climate crisis.

Unfortunately, due to tax credits in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, corporations are seeking to build thousands of miles of CO2 pipeline from Illinois to North Dakota without regard to the risks posed by these pipelines. McConnell states in the op-ed that CO2 pipelines do not leak. McConnell should talk to the residents of Satartia, Mississippi, who are suffering long-term respiratory effects and cognitive impairments from a CO2 pipeline rupture in 2020.

McConnell describes the carbon capture and CO2 pipeline industry as a climate solution, whereas it’s really part of the climate problem. Almost all of the carbon dioxide transported in pipelines is used for “enhanced oil recovery” in which the CO2 that is captured is injected back into oil wells to produce even more fossil fuels that the oil industry wants us to burn in our cars and our homes. How is burning more fossil fuels an answer to the climate crisis?

The claim that carbon capture technology and CO2 pipelines are the answer for environmentally responsible fuel production is a joke. In reality, it’s a scheme to permit fossil fuel corporations to increase their profits and production.

— Bruce W. Mainzer, vice chair, Climate Reality Project, Chicago metro chapter

A new Illinois carbon dioxide pipeline proposal is the latest step in the new war of deflection from Big Oil. A large percentage of Illinois’ energy can be supplied by renewable wind with good, steady jobs for so many. Solar, geothermal and hydro, maybe even someday fusion, can do the rest.

My hunch: The U.S. State Department could only get Republican congressmen to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act if the Department of Energy bought the polluters off with research money for the unproven.

Front groups for Big Oil are in the pocket of polluters; they promote carbon capture utilization and storage, or CCUS, so that Big Oil can keep extracting and burning fossil fuels.

Climate scientist Michael Mann debunks it: “There hasn’t been a proof of concept that shows that you can use (carbon capture storage) and produce energy without producing carbon pollution. … It’s not a meaningful climate solution, and it displaces meaningful climate solutions like clean energy, renewable energy.”

The pipeline won’t leak? There is no proof.

— Karen O. Fort, Chicago

Among the electric vehicle charging stations at oases along the Tri-State Tollway, several are out of order. User reports indicate that some of the tollway chargers may have been out of order for years.

Illinois Tollway commitment to EV chargers was never strong. Some of them are badly placed; if a driver is charging, the vehicle will block access to other facilities. Some are capable of charging two cars but come equipped with one plug.

It is time for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to wake up and better serve this expanding segment of the driving public.

— Michael Glass, Glen Ellyn

I listened to a recent interview between Mayor Brandon Johnson and WBEZ-FM 91.5 reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg. He was asked yet again about the circumstances of his firing of Dr. Allison Arwady. He gave the same nonanswer he has been giving. He prefaced his answer: “This is the last time I’m going to say on this.” Then he said: “I think it’s morally wrong to discuss the nature of someone’s employment and particularly their termination.”

This canned response is nonsensical and insulting to Chicagoans. The mayor wants to hide behind some high moral code. Ridiculous. He has a duty to explain all his decisions, upon demand. At first, I thought he does not want to explain the firing. Now I’m beginning to think he can’t explain it because it doesn’t make any sense.

The mayor’s charm and gift for gab are now failing him the very first time he has gotten himself into hot water. His inexperience is showing.

I urge all Chicago reporters to continue to demand a rational and coherent explanation for Arwady’s firing. Johnson needs to get the message early and often that stonewalling will not be tolerated.

— Blaise J. Arena, Des Plaines

It is amazing that in the battering Mayor Brandon Johnson has been taking for his blundering dismissal of the Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner, we have not heard a word about the effect this political warfare will have on Chicago Public Schools students. The Chicago Teachers Union has shown that its members would rather spend their time in political pursuits than in exploring sorely needed educational ways of improving outcomes for neglected CPS students.

Students can only hope the CTU has no litmus test for candidates to replace Dr. Allison Arwady; getting quality candidates at all will be difficult enough without distracting amateur politicking by the CTU. These activities are not in a teacher’s job description.

— William O’Neill, Chicago

All Chicago museums and other indoor attractions should institute minimal-fee or no-charge admission during hot weather.

— Alena and Ray Gust, Deer Park

Letter writer Lawrence E. Bonk (“Republican heroes to emulate,” Aug. 18) praises Brad Raffensperger in Georgia as a Republican hero to emulate. I would not consider Raffensperger a hero, as he has not spoken out about the aggressive voter purges done by Brian Kemp while Kemp, who is currently Georgia’s governor, was secretary of state.

— Barry Finkel, Chicago

Join the conversation in our Letters to the Editor Facebook group.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].