Tag Archives: Fracking in BC

Energy, Environment

Methane Emissions: One Of The Gas Industry’s Worst Climate Offenders

By Natalia Balcerzak, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

There are currently seven liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in various stages of proposal, planning and construction in B.C. To feed those facilities, B.C. is anticipating an explosion in the amount of fracking in the province’s northeast at the same time as it’s trying to get a handle on one of the gas industry’s worst climate offenders: methane emissions.

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Arts

Behind The Documentary Fractured Land

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The award-winning documentary “Fractured Land” follows the life of First Nations warrior and lawyer, Caleb Behn as he explores the impacts hydraulic fracturing is having on his community. It will soon be aired on the Knowledge Network. I had an opportunity to ask Campbell River filmmaker Damien Gillis, What’s behind the documentary Fractured Land?

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Energy

Does Ernst & Young’s LNG Report Vindicate BC?

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By Roy L Hales

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There are credible experts who believe that, with proper regulation and enforcement, it is possible to have a trustworthy fracking industry. They also say this does not yet exist in North America. Personally, I think the industry is out of control and BC’s government is desperate to get in bed with it. Last week the government released a report from Ernst & Young (EY) which the Minister of Natural Gas Development says “British Columbians can have confidence they are benefiting from a clean, well regulated natural gas industry.” Does Ernst & Young’s LNG report vindicate BC?

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Environment

We Are Eating Drilling & Fracking Waste

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By Roy L Hales

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Unconventional drilling creates a huge amount of waste, some of which is being sprayed onto farmer’s fields. A 2005 report from New Zealand stated cows grazing on “dump farms” have elevated levels of hydrocarbons. “Cows are allowed to graze on land with high levels of hydrocarbons without any punishment and their food products are allowed to go to market without government testing,” a Green Party MP said last year. It is happening in Canada too. The field above is northwest of Calgary. Former energy consultant Jessica Ernst said, “We are eating drilling & fracking waste.”

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Environment

BC’s Requirements For Disclosing Fracking Chemicals

Despite the problems, Dr Allan Hoffman (a retired senior executive from the US Department of Energy) believes there is simply too much money invested in the fracking revolution to stop it. With proper regulation and enforcement, he believes it is possible to reduce the number of incidents to an acceptable level. If this statement seems jarring, remember everyone who drives a car is taking an acceptable risk whenever they get behind the wheel. So what are BC’s Requirements For Disclosing Fracking Chemicals?

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