By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ridley Island in Prince Rupert, B.C., is home to the region’s primary export terminal. Freight trains rumble in 24/7, carrying goods like grain, coal and — more recently — liquified petroleum gas, commonly known as propane. Massive ships in the adjacent deep waters are loaded with this cargo, mostly destined for transport across the Pacific.
Continue reading Ridley Island: Vopak’s Proposed Prince Rupert Export TerminalBy Roy L Hales
Last March I interviewed internationally recognized energy expert David Hughes at his home on Cortes Island. Publication of this story was delayed, in part, because of a six minute segment in which he discussed some of the issues raised in his newly published report Will the Trans Mountain Pipeline and Tidewater Access Boost Prices and Save Canada’s Oil Industry? However we touched upon a wide range of subjects, including Tight Oil, Canada’s Pipeline Capacity & the Trans Mountain Pipeline’s feasibility.
Continue reading Tight Oil, Canada’s Pipeline Capacity & The Trans Mountain Pipeline’s Feasibility
By Roy L Hales
The fears seem especially strong across the renewable and environmental communities. David Suzuki writes that “a bigoted, misogynistic, climate change denier has been elected to the highest office in what is still the world’s most powerful nation.” Many fear that President-elect Donald Trump “is set to gut US environmental regulations, open up federal lands for fossil fuel extraction, and quit the Paris climate agreement.” Academics from many North American universities are copying information and data from U.S. government environmental websites before the new administration eradicates it. The next President’s personality “is certainly extreme by any standard.” How much damage can Donald Trump do to America?
Continue reading How Much Damage Can Donald Trump Do?By Roy L Hales
The oil train you see above may be one of the last to pass through Hood River, Oregon. Three weeks ago a near catastrophic derailment/fire occurred in the neighbouring town of Mosier. The town is still dealing with the aftereffects. Thursday the Federal Rail Authority’s (FRA) Preliminary report blamed the incident on Union Pacific’s failure to maintain their tracks. Now the Governors of Washington and Oregon are calling upon the FRA to halt Pacific Northwest oil trains.
By Roy L Hales
The lag bolts whose failure caused the recent oil-by-rail accident at Mosier were “relatively new.” According to Hal Gard, Administrator of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Rail and Public Transit Division, “new rail was installed at this location in 2013.” In a newly surfaced email to the Federal Rail Administrator for Region 8, this Oregon transportation Officer calls for an oil train moratorium.
Continue reading Transportation Officer Calls For Oil Train Moratorium
