Category Archives: Energy

Energy

Passing the buck at TMX pipeline hearings

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

Now that TMX is complete, the question of who should bear the brunt of the project’s cost overruns is making the rounds on Parliament Hill.

A federal committee delved into this issue on Wednesday night, with some witnesses and MPs insisting the oil and gas sector should shoulder the burden because they are the ones profiting, while others argued the pipeline benefits all Canadians.

Oil industry executives called to testify at the Oct. 9 committee meeting on Trans Mountain’s massively over-budget pipeline expansion were met with a combative NDP leader.

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Energy

Wind Power Coming to Campbell River Area?

Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, an independent and publicly traded power generating company headquartered in Toronto, has applied to SRD for permitting and approval for a new project on Vancouver Island. The “Brewster Wind Project” would install about 30 wind turbines on a site about 40 km northwest of Campbell River.  The proposed site is on some ridges between highways 28 and 19 — more specifically, between the White River and the Memekay River, spanning a range from west of the Memekay Horse Camp to north and east of Memekay Peak.

Map of proposed project from documentation submitted to SRD, see link above.
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Energy, Politics

Parties pitch energy plans before B.C. election

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC Greens and Conservatives launched competing visions for energy generation this week in contrast to the NDP’s future plans to heat peoples’ homes, fuel cars and run businesses.

All the parties emphasize the need to meet B.C.’s growing energy demands, while keeping rates affordable and fostering First Nations ownership of energy projects — but proposed courses of action vary wildly.

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Energy

TMX in the crosshairs on MPs’ first day back in Ottawa

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

Canadian MPs are back in the capital and kicked off day one by digging into the climate and financial impacts of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX).

Over five committee meetings in coming weeks, federal ministers, experts and interest groups will testify about TMX’s impact on Canada’s climate targets, how the cost to taxpayers soared, and government plans to sell TMX.

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Energy, Politics

Fossil fuel execs outlined a 7-part playbook to influence governments and media. Here’s what you need to know

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Last week, explosive claims made behind closed doors by a fossil fuel industry executive were made public. The claims — about how oil and gas giant TC Energy conducts its business — were made during an insider call at the company, which builds and operates crude oil and natural gas pipelines across North America.

The 42-minute spiel from Liam Iliffe, then a TC Energy executive, was part of a March “lunch and learn” session for 150 external relations employees across the continent. While the company said some of his claims were inaccurate and didn’t reflect how it operates, the leaked recordings have since made international headlines, sparked a probe from the B.C. government into his tactics and prompted harsh rebuke from politicians.

Continue reading Fossil fuel execs outlined a 7-part playbook to influence governments and media. Here’s what you need to know →