It does not take much to put a pipeline carrying oil or gas into the negative spotlight. Several days ago, Husky Energy experienced an oil spill on the North Saskatchewan River. This spill is now affecting the water supply at various downstream communities that are having to scramble to arrange alternative water sources. As many anti-pipeline protesters will immediately latch onto this incident to use as fodder for their own agenda, the big picture context is lost. Canadian pipeline licensees [Read more]
Opposition to pipelines is not really about pipelines
The astonishing opposition to pipelines in Canada is not really about opposition to pipelines. To advance various other agendas, the opponents have successfully hijacked the incredibly drawn-out and technically competent pipeline review process. The excellent and thorough NEB approval process is being ridiculed without any factual basis or simply shrugged off as irrelevant by opponents. Sadly too few politicians are speaking out against some of the ridiculous arguments being advanced by [Read more]
Trans Mountain environmental review panel consults in Calgary
The brand new panel has begun to seek community comment about the proposed expansion of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Pipelines. The panel was formed by the Federal Government in May 206 in response to the loud opposition when the NEB recommended approval of the expansion. The members of the panel are: Kim Baird, the chairwoman. She is a former elected chief of B.C.'s Tsawwassen First Nation who now runs her own consulting firm specializing in indigenous policy, governance and [Read more]
World demand for oil and gas will continue to increase
World demand for oil and gas will continue to increase during the next 20 years even while the use of renewable energy increases dramatically during the same period. Those who are pushing mankind to take dramatic steps to reduce the use of fossil fuels more rapidly and accelerate the use of renewables more rapidly should read the recently released 2016 edition of the BP Energy Outlook for a reality check. While this demand forecast is good news for our beleaguered Canadian oil and gas [Read more]
Actions and deliberate inactions to diversify Alberta’s economy
Whenever Alberta experiences the stresses and strains associated with a downturn in the oil & gas sector, many beat up our government for not diversifying the Alberta economy faster. We forget that we’ve been making steady diversification progress. When diversifying the Alberta economy, slow and steady wins the race. By contrast the big, flashy government investments that I described in my last article were a bust for taxpayers and for economic diversification. The main problem is that [Read more]
Diversifying Alberta’s economy is not complicated
Whenever Alberta experiences the stresses and strains associated with a downturn in the oil & gas sector, many beat up our government for not diversifying the Alberta economy faster. We forget that we’ve been making steady diversification progress as illustrated by the graphs above that are taken from Highlights of the Alberta Economy 2015. When diversifying the Alberta economy, slow and steady wins the race. By contrast big and flashy government investments have been a consistent bust [Read more]
Can Alberta transition from coal cheaply?
Alberta’s NDP government aims to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gases from coal-fired generating stations by 2030. the government plans to do this by developing replacement electricity from natural-gas-fired generating stations and from renewable energy sources. How much of a financial burden could the early phase-out of coal inflict on cost-conscious Alberta industry and consumers? While no consensus exists given the wide range of cost estimates for decommissioning coal-fired generating [Read more]
Three practical ways for producers to reduce methane emissions in Alberta
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama issued a joint statement on 10 March 2016 that included a commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by: Reducing methane emissions by 40-45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025 from the oil and gas sector. Exploring new opportunities for additional methane reductions. As illustrated in the below graph of the top 10 methane emitting countries, the United States ranks 2nd and Canada ranks 4th in methane emission volumes produced by each [Read more]
Alberta’s Early Phase-Out of Coal Creates Risk of Utility Debt
Alberta is the envy of the other Canadian provinces because it has no electrical utility debt. Most other provinces have chosen to burden future generations with debt and interest payments so that the current generation can enjoy below-market electricity rates. The billions of dollars of indebtedness are shown on the map. Alberta’s enviable position is now at risk as the NDP government proposes an early phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. That’s because an early phase-out [Read more]
8 reasons why Energy East is a win for Canada
Energy East has generated plenty of criticism. This is best exemplified by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent request for a more in-depth regulatory review. The pipeline, which would safely transport 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta to the East coast, is an obvious win for all Canadians. Below are 8 reasons why. Energy East creates additional Canadian jobs Canada’s economic growth has been anemic in 2015 and 2016. The thousands of jobs that building Energy East will create [Read more]