Crude oil, products will always be needed

One of the significant facts that seem to be overlooked in the current efforts to abolish the use of petroleum-based fuel is that asphalt cement, a byproduct of the oil refining process, is used to pave the 2.6 million miles of roads, streets and highways in the United States. Asphalt cement is a byproduct of the petroleum refining process and without asphalt cement our roads, streets, highways and airports would become unusable within the ensuing 30 years.

The highway system in the United States and the world is a critical element in getting the basic necessities from the farms and factories to the users. Without it, the effort to convert to all-electric vehicles would be a lost cause because they require paved roads to be able to operate efficiently.

There is no argument that efficient motor vehicles are needed to ensure the distribution of the critical elements for our survival but unless the anti-petroleum element in our society can develop a paving process to provide safe and efficient traffic flow, we will continue to need crude oil and the products derived from it.

RICHARD F. CREED

Sandpoint