Tag Archives: Alberta Energy Regulator

Energy

Lost in Transmission

By Will Noel, Pembina Institute

Alberta has abundant wind and solar energy but these resources are being wasted at record levels and driving costs up for consumers in the process. 

At the heart of the issue is a set of technical and regulatory barriers that mean clean, affordable, electricity is being wasted when Albertans need it most. 

This report provides an overview of the crux of the issue: while there is abundant, affordable, and clean energy available in Alberta, there isn’t enough transmission capacity to bring that energy to homes and businesses across the province.  This issue is leading to:

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Cost of Climate Change, Environment

Alberta’s tailings ponds are growing & Environmental groups want the Feds to intervene  

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to step in after oilsands tailing ponds grew by 90 million cubic metres in 2020 despite a drop in oil production, according to a report released last week by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).

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Energy, Environment, Indigenous Nations

Alberta Removes Oilsands Environmental Monitoring Restrictions

By Jake Cardinal, Alberta Native News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(ANNews) – The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has lifted environmental monitoring restrictions for all oil and gas companies in the province. The lifted restrictions allow for Alberta oil and gas to suspend the monitoring of air, water, and wildlife around worksites.

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Environment

Those Fracking Quakes Keep Getting Bigger

By Roy L Hales

Prior to 2013, there was one measurable quake a year at Fox Creek, Alberta. Then Chevron, Shell, Exxon and other major players started fracking in the surrounding hills. There has been 160 “small” quakes since then. After the first 4.4 quake this year, the Alberta Energy Regulator laid out a “traffic light system” whereby they are to be informed of any 2.0 quakes and when quakes are 4.0 or stronger companies are to cease operations. Fox Creek experienced another 4.4, which was felt 130 miles to the east in Edmonton, on June 13. Those Fracking quakes keep getting bigger.

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Energy

Did Albertan Regulators Act In Bad Faith?

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During the thirty years prior to the lawsuit, Ernst was a consultant working in the oil and gas sector. She performed like environmental impact assessments, environmental protection plans and recommended mitigation. Encana was one of her customers. Jessica Ernst doesn’t get paid work anymore. Seven years ago she sued against Encana, Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). The case has yet to go beyond the question of whether an Albertan citizen can sue government agencies. When Judge Neil Whittmann ruled the case can proceed, last November, he said (paragraph 56) “there is a reasonable prospect Ernst will succeed in establishing that Alberta owed her a primae facie duty of care.” Did Albertan regulators act in bad faith?

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