 |
|
|
|
|
Letters
Nothing green about Hanson Cement
I almost choked when I read the recent puff piece fed to The Courier by Hanson Cement's PR flaks. There is nothing remotely "green" about the worst polluter in the Santa Clara County. Here's a company that tries to sugarcoat their horrible environmental record by promoting the ludicrous idea of "green" cement houses.
What Hanson didn't happen to mention to the Courier is that cement production is one of the most polluting industries in the world delivering over one tenth of all greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
They also didn't mention that to produce cement Hanson burns thousands of tons of coal a year right upwind from our houses. This coal burning produces 231 tons of particulates, 1614 tons of Nitrogen Oxides, 2196 tons of Carbon Monoxide, and 402 tons of Sulfur Dioxide per year as well as Dioxin and Benzene, two potent carcinogens. They didn't mention that they have been listed as a "toxic hot spot" by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Of course they'd never mention those facts, because if they did, and the Cupertino citizens truly realized the extent to which they are subject to the effluent of this grandfathered operation, they might try to run them out of town.
Its a good thing the cement houses are cheaper to heat and cool as most people will have to stay inside most of the time to avoid the resulting dirtier air outside.
John Mracek
West Valley Citizens Air Watch
Cupertino
|
|
|
|
Cupertino, California Since 1947
