BOE Report

Shell Canada boss welcomes Alberta’s toughened-up carbon emissions rules

CALGARY - At least two big carbon emitters have given the thumbs-up to Alberta's plan to strengthen its greenhouse gas rules over the next 18 months.Capital Power (TSX:CPX) CEO Brian Vaasjo cheered the changes at a news conference alongside Environment Minister Shannon Phillips on Thursday, saying more green energy investment is likely to result."Not only is it the right thing to do, it's the right time to do it," said Vaasjo, whose Edmonton-based company generates power from coal, natural gas [Read more]

Environment lawyers challenge B.C.’s Kinder Morgan pipeline conditions

VICTORIA - British Columbia's five conditions for approval of the proposed $5.4 billion Kinder Morgan pipeline won't be addressed if the province isn't involved in the process, says a lawyer representing an environmental group.Ecojustice lawyer Karen Campbell said Thursday that the conditions set out by Premier Christy Clark are invisible during the ongoing National Energy Board process that is considering environmental approval of the pipeline.Ecojustice, on behalf of Living Oceans Society, [Read more]

Alberta tweaks greenhouse gas rules, emission intensity to be cut by 20 per cent

EDMONTON - The Alberta government has tweaked its greenhouse gas reduction rules now with a promise of a complete policy on reducing climate change-causing emissions a few months down the road."Some will argue that we aren't going far enough on these issues," NDP Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said Thursday. "I say to them we are serious about making progress. "Some will argue we are moving too far and too fast. I say to them that more of the same would be the worst thing we could do for [Read more]

Alberta environment minister faces questions over work on protest book

EDMONTON - Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips is vehemently rejecting opposition accusations she is a potential liability for her role in a decade-old book that urged protesters to break the law."This is an attempt to not talk about the real issues and what the government's agenda actually is," Phillips said Wednesday in an interview. "This is a big portfolio and I am up to that task. That's what I'm doing today, and that's what I have worked pretty well my entire adult life to [Read more]

B.C. politicians returning to legislature to tackle LNG law for proposed plant

VICTORIA - British Columbia's politicians are being recalled for a summer sitting to debate legislation designed to pave the way for a $36-billion liquefied natural gas plant on the north coast near Prince Rupert.Liberal House Leader Mike de Jong said Tuesday the legislative session will start July 13 and members will debate one bill, the discussion of which could last more than a week.The bill will ratify a project-development agreement between B.C. and Pacific NorthWest LNG, a joint venture [Read more]

Alberta environment minister downplays expected climate announcement

WINNIPEG - Alberta is still consulting on its much-anticipated new climate strategy just days before a major announcement on it is expected."We are going to be talking with industry over the coming weeks on exactly what our framework looks like," said Shannon Phillips, speaking at a meeting of provincial environment ministers in Winnipeg."We have not yet completed those consultations."Alberta's recently elected New Democrat government has promised an announcement on a new strategy to fight [Read more]

Don’t give up on carbon capture technology, Saskatchewan tells Alberta

CALGARY - As the government of Alberta considers how to shift away from plans to capture and store carbon, the head of a similar program in Saskatchewan has one word of advice: don't.Mike Monea, president of carbon capture initiatives at the provincial utility SaskPower, said carbon capture and storage, which involves trapping carbon dioxide and pumping it into the ground, is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."In a simplistic way some people say, 'Well, just get rid of fossil fuels [Read more]

Cenovus confirms talks about potential sale of assets, silent on buyer’s identity

CALGARY - Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE) confirmed Friday that it's in talks about the potential sale of royalty lands but provided no details of the other party's identity or the estimated value of the deal.The announcement follows a Reuters news report that the Calgary-based company was holding exclusive talks with the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan about a deal that sources said could be worth between $2.5 bilion and $3 billion.Cenovus said before markets opened Friday that it's making progress [Read more]

Obama to appear at fundraiser hosted by Keystone opponent, as decision awaited

WASHINGTON - With a decision looming on the Keystone XL pipeline, President Barack Obama is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser hosted by a prominent pipeline opponent.The president will speak Friday at a fundraiser in California hosted by the so-called green billionaire Tom Steyer, who has promoted and donated heavily to anti-pipeline campaigns.The White House played down any connection between the event and the president's eventual decision on the Canada-to-Texas pipeline, when asked whether [Read more]

Shell-led LNG Canada project gets environmental go-ahead from Ottawa, B.C.

CALGARY - A multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project led by Royal Dutch Shell was given the environmental go-ahead on Wednesday, subject to dozens of conditions.The LNG Canada project — planned for Kitimat B.C. — obtained the blessing of both the federal and British Columbia governments following a streamlined review process. The federal government has decided the environmental impacts of the LNG Canada project are justified in the circumstances, Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq [Read more]