Energy and how it is captured and consumed is barely viable in tar sands production. While the amount of oil in places such as the tar sands in Alberta or the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela may have deposits of similar size to the reserves of countries such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, the return of new energy after expending energy in production is not even close. In Iraq, the process of using one barrel of oil generates 100 new barrels. In the tar sands, estimates of 3 to 1 and even as low as 1.5 to 1 have been made. Offsetting the net energy loss would require minimally 25-30 tar sands facilities for one Saudi plant operating at the same capacity.
Unshackling the Mackenzie
McCrank offers blueprint to untangle NWT’s cumbersome regulatory regime
By Gary Park
For Petroleum News
Editor’s note: TransCanada’s proposed gas pipeline route from Alaska’s North Slope to Alberta gas hub does not go through the Northwest Territories.
Canada’s northern territories are a step closer to a simpler system to regulate development of their minerals, forestry and oil and natural gas.
NEB gives nod to Canadian expansion of Keystone pipeline
By The Canadian Press - For Business Edge
Published: 07/25/2008
The National Energy Board has approved a plan to expand the Canadian portion of the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline (TSX:TRP) project.
The $348-million expansion will allow Keystone to increase its capacity by 156,000 barrels per day to 591,000 bpd.
The Canadian portion of the Keystone pipeline will extend from Hardisty to a point near Haskett, Man.
Red tape ties up Mackenzie plan
Herald News Services
Published: Friday, July 25, 2008
As the Alaska pipeline clears political hurdles and marches forward, Canada's own multibillion-dollar plan to tap Arctic natural gas reserves in the Mackenzie Delta remains in regulatory limbo.
The fact wasn't lost on Northwest Territories industry minister Bob McLeod.
Naomi Klein: Bush Sees Crises in Fuel, Food, Housing and Banking as Chance to Exploit Us More
By Amy Goodman
Jul 20, 2008, 06:04
People are desperate for solutions but instead they're handed policies that don't solve the crises, and are highly profitable for corporations.
Richmond council OKs Chevron refinery plan
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, July 18, 2008
RICHMOND -- A sharply divided Richmond City Council approved on Thursday Chevron's controversial plan for a major upgrade of its century-old refinery and accepted $61 million from the oil company for community programs.
The council voted 5-4 to approve a conditional use permit for Chevron to replace a hydrogen plant, install new hydrogen-purifying equipment, build a new cogeneration power plant and replace other antiquated machinery.
Brazen protesters tag Syncrude pond
Alexandra Zabjek, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 2:31 am, July 25, 2008
EDMONTON - A new chapter in activism against Alberta's oilsands was
opened Thursday when a group of protesters entered Syncrude's Aurora
mine site north of Fort McMurray and unfurled banners on the edge of a
controversial tailings pond.
"To actually go onto the (oilsands) sites themselves, that's a new thing
and I think we can expect to see more of that in the future as greater
awareness is brought to what's going on up north," said Paul Joosse, a
Tar Sands Industry Poised to Pollute Canada's Largest Freshwater Aquifer
CALGARY (July 24, 2008) – The Métis Nation in northeastern Alberta has
discovered that many of Alberta's in situ tar sands projects sit immediately
below a vast groundwater channel system that flows into the Athabasca River.
Given the accidental steam blowouts that have already occurred in the
region, the potential for pollution of Canada's largest freshwater aquifer
is very real.
"We are deeply concerned about these blowouts," says Rick Boucher,
Despite the tone of the article below, there is much opposition in the community to this development, opposition whose voices need to be heard.
--M
Reservation officials discuss oil exploration
Business News - Native Business News
New Town, North Dakota (AP) 5-08
The chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes sees new opportunities in oil exploration but says it may come at a price.
A few quick notes on this:
TransCanada-- otherwise known as TCPL-- is a major sponsor of the 2010 Olympics destroying Vancouver and the lands of "BC". TransCanada is also a massive construction conduit for the expansion of the tar sands/tar pits up to 5 MILLION barrels a day (more than any other single country in the world minus Saudi Arabia for daily delivery). These plans are enunciated and spelled out in the SPP's round of talks from Houston, 2006.
TCPL is promoting the expansion of *both* northern pipelines for gas, and finally gave up the competition charade:
Federal climate change report warns of health problems
STEVE RENNIE
The Canadian Press
July 24, 2008 at 4:59 PM EDT
OTTAWA — A major report on climate change and health forecasts a higher risk of injuries, illnesses and stress-related disorders brought on by more frequent bouts of extreme weather.
A not-yet-released Health Canada report urges the federal government to brace Canadians for health problems arising from more droughts, violent storms, heat waves and cold snaps.
