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.
TransCanada weathers the storm.
Calgary Herald
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Canwest News Service
CALGARY – TransCanada Corp. managed to weather the downturn surprisingly well.
After an uncertain start to 2009, the Calgary-based pipeline company, which operates Canada's largest natural-gas network, managed to advance its suite of growth projects despite the financial crisis and the recession.
County commission votes to oppose pipeline
By PAIGE CARSWELL
Published: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 1:39 PM CST
Cowley County commissioners passed a resolution during their Tuesday morning meeting in support of denying a property tax exemption to TransCanada Keystone Pipeline.
The resolution states several reasons the exemption should not be granted, including that businesses operating within the lines of a county should “pay their fair share” and that the pipeline has not been given a tax exemption in any other state.
Lawyers, not engineers, to dominate work on carbon storage in 2010
[Pembina endorses the concept of carbon capture and sequestration at the end]
By Bob Weber (CP)
December 26 2009
EDMONTON — Before you start putting carbon in the ground, you first have to put lawyers in a room.
After a year that saw billions of dollars in public funds sprayed around a variety of carbon capture and storage pilot projects, the focus in 2010 will shift from splashy press conferences to quiet boardrooms where officials will work out exactly how all that money will be spent.
Chinese oilsands takeover bid under review
Investment law says big deals must represent 'net benefit' for Canada
By Andrew Mayeda, Canwest News Service
December 19, 2009
The Harper government is quietly reviewing the $1.9-billion investment by a state-owned Chinese oil company in two oilsands projects, more than a month after the deal was originally supposed to close.
December 23, 2009
Statoil Committed To Canada's Oilsands
By: Lynda Harrison
Statoil Canada Ltd. has a new Canadian president who says this country's oilsands represent a key part of the company's global strategy and his company is committed to developing them in a manner that balances social, economic and environmental concerns.
Alberta oilsands comeback predicted to fuel economic growth
By MARKUS ERMISCH, QMI AGENCY
Last Updated: 24th December 2009
Following a sharp economic contraction this year, Alberta's economy is forecast to be one of Canada's fastest growing provinces in 2010.
Scotiabank economist Alex Koustas predicts that in 2010, the energy province's GDP will grow by 2.9% after shrinking 2.6% this year.
Only B.C., at 3%, is forecast to grow at a faster rate.
On Saturday, December 19th, eco-activist Ingmar Lee unfurled a banner
high atop the flagpole at BC's legislature in an effort to draw
attention to the planned pipeline that will ship dirty oil from
Alberta, through the precious Great Bear Rainforest, to Kitimat BC
where it'll be processed and transported along our ragged coast by
supertankers for export. Remember the Exxon Valdez?
Ingmar tells his story here:
http://www.pacificfreepress.com/news/1/5232-climbing-the-pole-for-forest...
CHEK TV'S video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YqRnHeCud4
Copenhagen: Obama Guts Progressive Values
— By Bill McKibben
| Fri Dec. 18, 2009
The President of the United States did several things in his agreement today with China, India, and South Africa:
"The city of Copenhagen is a crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport." Don't feel too dirty partyers. Be sure to buy indulgences and see you when you fly in to the party at Whistler
Low targets, goals dropped: Copenhagen ends in failure
Deal thrashed out at talks damned as climate change denial in action
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/18/copenhagen-deal
* John Vidal, Jonathan Watts and Suzanne Goldenberg in Copenhagen
* guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 December 2009 00.47 GMT
* The Moment Of Truth*
*By Fidel Castro*
18 December, 2009
The news from the Danish capital gives a picture of chaos. After planning a conference with about 40 thousand people in attendance, the hosts find it impossible to honor their promise. Evo, the first of the two presidents of ALBA-member countries to arrive, stated some truths derived from the millennium-old culture of his people.
