Pipelines seem like the better option

To the editor:

As an Eastern Iowa native, and current Iowa State student, I am encouraged by America's recent domestic energy renaissance and what it could mean for our economy moving forward.

Unfortunately, increased oil production in states like North Dakota has provided a few difficult dilemmas. Due to limitations on pipeline capacity, more and more oil has been being shipped by rail and road. There have been several recent incidents transporting this Bakken crude oil by rail, including a fiery derailment just outside of Galena. This issue seems even more relevant for our state as there is a new crude oil pipeline currently being proposed in Iowa.

Of course there is no way to guarantee there will never be a leak, but I am a proponent of increasing pipeline capacity in our nation. Modern pipelines are constructed with higher standards than those decades ago, and I am increasingly concerned with a major rail incident happening in one of our communities. We will not be able to transport all of this new oil being produced by pipeline alone, and I'm confidant railroads are taking measures to increase their own safety, but right now new pipelines seem like a great option.

Brittany Gaura

Ames