Work must start now on capturing carbon

Thank you Mr. Alexander for your letter to the editor about my “bamboo” carbon sequestration idea (“Sugarcane, canary grass can be used to capture carbon,” The Herald, Dec. 3). The canary grass you suggested seems to be a viable solution. The only reason I would add bamboo is because most varieties are evergreen and would work for us 12 months a year. Again, I think that the freeway medians are the best location. Carbon sequestration located where most of the carbon is generated. But we have to get started; some scientist think we may have already reached the “tipping point,” beyond which we won’t be able to recover.

So let me add another idea in hopes of getting more readers on board. Most states have exhausted oil wells that can be used to pump carbon dioxide down for sequestration. That is until the pumping results in earthquakes like those resulting from fracking. Washington state has no such wells. But, we do have the ocean. Obviously, we don’t need to turn the ocean acidic. I propose using the military type fuel bladders. Filled below a certain depth, the pressure will keep the carbon dioxide liquid. These durable neoprene type bladders are battle ready, and have the extra advantage of being removed if a better sequestration idea comes along.

David Wallace

Mukilteo