Climate Change / Emissions

Energy economy can't turn on dime
2008-09-16
By RICKY LEONG

With Canada firmly in the grasp of an election campaign, all eyes have turned toward the East.

As demonstrated in a Sun Media-Nanos poll published in the Sun yesterday, most Canadians appear confident in their ability to weather an expected economic downturn -- except our cousins in Quebec and Ontario, where the manufacturing sector has taken a beating in recent years.

The parties are posturing to convince Canadians, easterners in particular, who is best suited to steer Canada through tough economic times.

Oilsands firms balk at wetlands policy
'No net-loss' rule could cost oil producers billions
Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald
Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Two major industry associations representing oilsands producers are refusing to support key tenets of a long-awaited plan to protect Alberta's wetlands, citing concerns about rigid rules and restoration costs that could stretch to $1 billion and beyond.

Environmental groups say they have been blindsided by the decision.

UPDATE 3-Devon starts phase 2 of Alberta oil sands project
Mon Sep 8, 2008 5:23pm EDT

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Devon Energy Corp (DVN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is embarking on the second phase of its Alberta oil sands project, a $1-billion-plus expansion aimed at doubling output in four years, the U.S. oil independent said on Monday.

Devon said it won regulatory approval for phase two of the steam-driven Jackfish project, which will add 35,000 barrels a day of production of tar-like bitumen by 2012. It will start construction immediately.

Canadian oil sands needed

LOADING
Sep 14, 2008 - 04:05:23 CDT
ROBERT JOHNSON
Bismarck

As a North Dakota geologist, I find the environmentalists’ opposition to U.S. use of Canadian oil sands and the Keystone pipeline narrow-minded and self-serving.

The public interest in ensuring America’s energy security requires that we use Canada’s oil sands. Second in size only to Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves, the oil sands hold an estimated 173 billion barrels of oil.

Fort Chip to world: SOS

Posted on September 14, 2008 by zandernat

Climate change, water policy and aboriginal health. Three issues that should be atop the election agenda. Three issues that start with the oil sands.

Canadians are dying. Our government is doing nothing about it. Will it take world attention to end this injustice?

Oilsand fears wrestle benefits
Majority of Albertans don't buy 'dirty oil' label
Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald // September 14, 2008

Albertans appear conflicted about the massive oilsands -- a resource nearly everyone agrees is an economic bonanza for the province, but one many feel is accompanied by a worrying array of environmental and human health effects.

In a wide-reaching Leger Marketing poll of 962 Albertans focused on their impressions of the oilsands, respondents were clearly concerned about the industry's impacts, especially when it comes to health complaints.

Tar-sands pipeline will undo Quebec's work on environment
Voters should press governments to force polluters to reduce emissions
MATT PRICE and AARON FREEMAN, Freelance
Published: Wednesday, September 10

Quebec was one of the first provinces to show leadership on tackling global warming. It is now pursuing more efficient vehicles, has a carbon tax at the fuel wholesale level, and is joining other jurisdictions in a cap-and-trade system to control greenhouse-gas emissions.

It's a shame that this progress is being undone by the tar sands.

Suncor's coke solution? Ahoy, Port Alberta
PATRICK BRETHOUR
Globe and Mail
July 25, 2008

PRINCE RUPERT -- The massive pyramids of coal on Prince Rupert's Ridley Island are anonymous, but one has a story to tell.

The coal pile in question belongs to oil sands giant Suncor Energy Inc., which is already shipping a half-million tonnes a year through Prince Rupert to Asian and Mexican ports. Suncor hasn't decided to branch out into the coal mining business. The coal - to be more precise, petroleum coke - comes from its upgrading operations in Fort McMurray, Alta.

New coke facility to open by 2010: ConocoPhillips unit cost is $2 billion
Thu. September 11, 2008

A new $2 billion coke unit at the ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery should be in use in two years.

Before the end of 2010, the new coke oven is expected to be in operation at the Roxana plant and help expand daily production capacity from 306,000 barrels to approximately 360,000 barrels. That will translate into 312 gallons of gasoline and fuel produced each day.

Whose energy independence?
Tar sands are key to energy security plans in the US election, but federal parties ignore Canada’s dependence on foreign oil

RICARDO ACUÑA / ualberta.ca/parkland

One of the ways in which the current US presidential election differs from the current Canadian federal election is that oil prices, energy independence and energy security are all critical campaign issues for the US.