BURNABY, B.C. – Greenpeace protesters have set up a blockade at the Kinder Morgan oil pumping facility in Burnaby, B.C. Spokesman Peter Louwe says two protesters have climbed onto the oil pumping mechanism and 14 other demonstrators are also on the scene and have unfurled a banner. Louwe says the
Continue readingTag: Energy and Resources
The Common Sense Canadian: Clark, Redford getting closer on Enbridge, energy export plans?
B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Alberta’s Alison Redford (photo: Dan Riedhuber/Reuters) VICTORIA – British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Alberta’s Alison Redford have appointed a team of senior bureaucrats to develop an energy export plan, barely a year after a high-profile disagreement over the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline strained the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: North Dakota fracked oil spill one of nation’s largest ever
photo: Neal Lauron/Greenpeace Read this Oct. 10 story from DeSmogBlog.com on a North Dakota fracked oil spill of close to a million gallons, exacerbated by the ongoing US Government shutdown. Over 20,600 barrels of oil fracked from the Bakken Shale has spilled from aTesoro Logistics pipeline in Tioga, North Dakota in one of the biggest
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: China’s chaotic leap forward to a green economy
When most people talk of China and its environmental and energy challenges, they tend to paint a very bleak picture. While this view is historically justified, things are changing fast in today’s China. Criticism of China’s environmental record has been traditionally well-justified. After all, China: 1) displaced the US as the world’s largest energy consumer as
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Frackez-vous: French court passes ultimate fracking ban
Image: Damien Gillis/Fractured Land Read this story from Climate Progress on the fracking ban upheld by France’s constitutional court – perhaps the strongest yet in the world. France’s ban on fracking was finally completed Friday, as its constitutional court upheld a 2011 law prohibiting the practice and canceling all exploration permits. The decision
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: NAFTA challenge to Quebec fracking law puts profits ahead of water
Fracking protest in New Brunswick (photo: Colin McPhail) by Emma Lui Communities everywhere are calling for a stop to fracking – from Elsipogtog First Nation’s highway blockade in New Brunswick to Californians, New Yorkers and other Americans urging for a frackign ban on public lands to farmers occupying fields in
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Malaysian LNG promise is actually a massive BC giveaway
What was touted as a $36 Billion investment commitment by Malaysian LNG giant Petronas is actually a massive giveaway of natural gas by BC – valued at up to $400 Billion gross over the 25 year term of a secretive export licence being negotiated behind closed doors. The headline blared
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Alberta court protects regulator from Ernst’s fracking lawsuit
Environmental consultant Jessica Ernst on her land in Alberta (Colin Smith photo) ROSEBUD, Alta. – An Alberta woman has lost a round in her legal battle against the contentious process of hydraulic fracturing. Jessica Ernst launched a $33-million lawsuit against the Alberta government, the province’s energy regulator and energy company
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: “Clean” LNG would be powered by lots of dirty fracking
Fracking operations in BC’s Montney Shale (photo: Damien Gillis) Beneath the glowing rhetoric surrounding BC’s promised liquefied natural gas (LNG) boom lies a dirty little secret: the vast majority of the industry would be powered by controversial fracking in northeast BC. Add that to the huge carbon footprint and local
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Despite Fukushima radiation, scientists say West Coast fish is safe
Following Japan’s devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, fear spread about risks of leaked radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant – for the health of those living in or near Fukushima or involved in cleanup efforts, and for the planet and the potential impacts on our complex marine food
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Enbridge Line 9 concern heating up as hearings begin
Watch this informative video from OperationMaple.ca, describing Enbridge’s plan to ship 300,000 barrels/day of Alberta bitumen east by reversing the flow of a 37-year old line from Montreal to Sarnia, Ontario – to be carried out in two phases. Phase 1 of the reversal, Line 9A, was approved by the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Note to Malaysian PM: $36 Billion LNG investment is risky business
Malaysian PM Najib Razak and Stephen Harper (AP/Lai Seng Sin) During a recent state visit by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Malaysia, host PM Najib Razak pledged a “gargantuan” investment of $36 Billion for gas infrastructure in British Columbia, through national energy company Petronas. The Sunday announcement comes following
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Malaysian PM pledges $36 Billion for Petronas’ BC LNG plant
Malaysian PM Mohd Najib and Stephen Harper (AP/Lai Seng Sin) by Bruce Cheadle – Canadian Press NUSA DUA, INDONESIA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Bali for an Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit Sunday bearing what could be called a $36-billion vote of confidence from Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas company. Malaysian
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Billionaire Tom Steyer blasts Harper’s agressive Keystone lobbying
Billionaire Keystone XL pipeline opponent Tom Steyer (photo: Getty Images) OTTAWA – An anti-Keystone XL pipeline crusader has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, suggesting Canada’s aggressive lobbying for the project played a part in the ongoing government shutdown south of the border. Tom Steyer, a San Francisco billionaire who’s
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: BC to study air pollution impacts from proposed LNG plants
Proposed LNG plant in Kitimat – artist’s rendering VICTORIA – The B.C. government will spend $650,000 to study potential air pollution impacts of proposed industrial developments — including liquefied natural gas plants — in the Kitimat area, a decision opposition politicians and scientists are calling better-late-than-never. The Liberals said Thursday
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: First Nations energy company floats oil refinery near Prince Rupert
Eagle Spirit Energy’s Calvin Helin speaking the Vancouver Board of Trade A new energy company with partial aboriginal ownership is floating the idea of an oil refinery at Grassy Point, near Prince Rupert on BC’s north coast, according to a letter sent to members of a local First Nations band.
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: First Nation bans pipelines for BC LNG
While much has been made of partnerships between First Nations and companies proposing to build natural gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals on BC’s coast, the position being taken by one particular nation could have a chilling effect on the nascent industry. Hereditary Chief Na’moks of the Wet’suwet’en
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Judge blasts Alberta government for silencing oilsands critics
Oilsands infrastructure near Fort McMurray (photo: Kris Krüg) EDMONTON – Alberta’s Environment Department has been rebuked by a judge for working behind the scenes to silence groups that question the effects of oilsands operations on the environment. “This is a black mark for the government of Alberta,” Simon Dyer of
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Troubled Waters: New video investigates northeast BC fracking
Watch this new 5-min video documenting some of the impacts of shale gas fracking in northeast BC. Chief Roland Wilson of West Moberly First Nations describes his community’s concerns regarding water impacts. The industry uses and contaminates billions of litres of fresh water every year, pulled out of local rivers and
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Obey law, minister tells New Brunswick fracking protesters
Fracking protest in New Brunswick (photo: Colin McPhail) HALIFAX – New Brunswick’s minister of energy is urging people participating in a demonstration against exploration for shale gas fracking to obey the law. Craig Leonard says while he recognizes the right to protest against the industry, matters will be turned over
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