It was an expected but devastating decision. The Harper government approved the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline — against the wishes of the majority of Canadians. But here’s the thing: there’s still time to stop the pipeline. Enbridge has stated its commitment to renew conversations with First Nations and other communities in the pathway of the pipeline. It […]
Northern gateway pipeline approval approved in Alberta’s heartland
While environmental groups and First Nations criticized the Harper government for approving the Northern gateway pipeline, the provinces industrial heartland has a different take. Not surprisingly it wants the pipeline to satisfy the 209 conditions and get the go ahead to start building. The Executive Director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA), Neil Shelly, told […]
Iraq Could Be the Country That Gets Keystone Approved
The fact that Iraq is crumbling and could be on the verge of civil war might be what it takes to prompt the US government to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. With record oil production in the United States likely to soften any domestic blow volatility on the world scene will have, America will still […]
Help for oil spill cleanup
MIT researchers think they have found a way to separate oil from water after a major spill. Their newly developed membrane could process large quantities of the finely mixed materials back into pure oil and water. In addition to its possible role in cleaning up spills, the new method could also be used for routine […]
Deja vu for Keystone XL
Second time is the charm? TransCanada Corp., the company behind the Keystone XL pipeline, has to satisfy a regulatory hurdle that was already jumped four years ago. The state of South Dakota gave its stamp of approval in 2010 and while the permit is still valid, TransCanada needs to certify the conditions placed on the […]
Is pipeline company prepared to haze whales?
The pipeline situation in Canada has been contentious for a while. But now, it’s getting positively weird. In the latest twist, the energy giant Kinder Morgan is proposing a novel wildlife protection scheme. If a pipeline expansion that boosts oil exports out of Vancouver leads to a massive new spill, Kinder Morgan says it knows […]
U.S. back in the crude oil export business
For the first time since the ’70’s the United States is getting into the oil export business. In the last four decades the only country the US exported oil to was Canada. There is a catch. The U.S. Commerce Department’s ruling has redefined crude in such a way that applies only to a form of […]
Pipeline exporting crude isn’t good for Canada, job creation
A recent opinion piece from a handful of construction unions — Northern Gateway pipeline needed to enrich us all — was long on rhetoric about the Northern Gateway pipeline and short on facts. According to the Alberta Federation of Labour, only 228 permanent jobs will be created from a pipeline opposed by 130 First Nations, […]
What category do you file this idea under?
Oil companies in Northern Alberta have used air cannons to scare birds from tailings ponds. The next step to “protecting” wildlife from being impacted by the oil industry might be setting off explosives to deter whales from swimming near any potential spill from tankers on the west coast. The Globe and Mail obtained documents outlining […]
Keystone XL economic benefit larger than expected?
The Keystone XL pipeline‘s supporters have long been touting the economic benefits of the project and now they have more ammunition for the ongoing fight. A study conducted by the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University, determined a close to 800 kilometre span of the pipeline has been a tremendous financial benefit for two […]