Abandon Tarsands says Investor

Abandon oil sands, urges big investor

• Heather Connon, investment editor
• The Observer,

One of Britain’s biggest investors will launch a campaign this week to persuade Shell and BP to drop their plans for heavy investment in oil sands and shale projects in North America.

Co-operative Asset Management is concerned that the huge environmental costs of producing crude from oil sands or shale could change the economics of these so-called ‘unconventional’ fuel sources, putting the oil companies and their investors at risk of a huge wasted investment.

Target Tar Sands

Layton targets tar sands
GLORIA GALLOWAY
Globe and Mail Update
September 8, 2008 at 7:04 PM EDT
FORT SMITH, NWT — The plane carrying New Democrat Leader Jack Layton and his NDP entourage swooped over the Alberta tar sands Monday to show vast expanses of northern wilderness despoiled by development.

Ponds filled with chemicals that remain from oil extraction, forest that have criss-crossed with strips that have been cleared of trees, mines that rise out of nowhere.

Linda Duncan, the environmental advocate who is running for the New Democrats in Edmonton-Strathcona, offered a running description of the devastation below. Wildlife has been displaced, she said, and ground water has been drained.

In Fort Smith, more than 300 kilometres north of the tar sands that lie outside Fort McMurray, Alta., people fear the chemicals they say may be flowing their way.

Layton Targets Tar Sands

Layton calls for halt to tar sands approvals

Updated Mon. Sep. 8 2008 10:05 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

NDP Leader Jack Layton cast doubt on Stephen Harper’s environmental policies as he flew over the Alberta oil sands in his campaign plane on Monday.

“We’re looking at the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world,” he said, “and Mr. Harper is responsible because he is giving away the store to big oil companies.”

Layton has demanded a moratorium on oil sands development, and criticized the “tax grab” it provides to oil and gas companies.

In a statement released on the NDP website Layton said: “Despite warnings from his own government agencies, Harper fast tracked Imperial Oil’s Kearl tar sands development, north of Fort McMurray, without any conditions to mitigate the significant impacts on the environment.”

Source of Oil Matters

The Register-Guard: EditorialsLetters: Commentary

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By Bob Doppelt

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After the health risks of smoking became clear, government took steps to protect the public. Government action will likewise be needed to protect the public — and the planet — from unconventional fossil fuels.

The world supply of conventional oil is shrinking, and petroleum companies are ramping up the production of oil from “unconventional” sources such as tar sands, coal and oil shale.

Unfortunately, oil from these sources causes even more environmental damage than conventional oil. If global warming is to be resolved, the use of unconventional oil must be constrained.

Geothermal Gets No Love

Geothermal `not getting any love’ TheStar.com – Business – Geothermal `not getting any love’

Canada has significant `earth energy’ potential, but critics say it’s not doing much about it

July 17, 2008

Tyler Hamilton

Energy Reporter

Canada’s obsession with “clean coal” and carbon capture technologies has left it blind to the vast potential of its own geothermal resources, says the head of one of the country’s few publicly traded developers of geothermal power.

Gary Thompson, chief executive of Sierra Geothermal Power Inc. of Vancouver, said the neglect has left Canada a laggard among peers who view emission-free geothermal power as a strategic part of their electricity mix.

“We’re one of the few countries with significant geothermal potential that’s not doing anything about it,” said Thompson, adding that the federal government has shown little interest, despite calls for more study. “It’s rather disconcerting. They’ve really been letting Canadians down.”

Alberta: Eco-slowpoke

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=3d74435e-41cc-45d0-a587-682be30182f9

Suzuki Foundation says Alberta lags in commitment to improving environment

Jason Fekete, Calgary Herald

Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

CALGARY – Alberta’s carbon-intensive oilsands and weak climate-change policies have made it the environmental laggard in Canada, according to a new report from David Suzuki Foundation.

The environmental think-tank released the document Wednesday morning in Quebec City, as Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial premiers gather there for the Council of the Federation conference.

It finds that most provinces – namely British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario – have set stronger climate-change targets than the federal government and are outperforming Ottawa on the file.

Suncor’s on-site oilsands refinery near Fort McMurray

Canada’s; Made in America Energy Policy

Made in America energy policy TheStar.com – Opinion – Made in America energy policy

July 15, 2008

Linda McQuaig

When Americans want something that lies in another country, the consequences for that other country can be severe.

Even if they don’t actually invade, they put a lot of pressure on lesser countries to behave as they want.

Canada, for instance, hasn’t been invaded by the United States since 1812, but Ottawa has proved highly co-operative with Washington’s desire to have access to our oil. We are America’s Number 1 supplier.

Pressure for Canadian acquiescence in servicing America’s apparently bottomless energy appetite is only going to get more intense, as fresh panic sweeps across America over skyrocketing oil prices and supply insecurity. Oddly, the Bush administration continues to flirt with the idea of making oil supplies even more insecure by launching a military strike against Iran.

No Consensus on Climate Action

Climate policy divide expected at Canada premiers’ meeting

Published by Point Carbon: 15 Jul 08 17:03 Last updated: 15 Jul 08 17:14

http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.947128

Carbon trading backers are expected to come head to head with those advocating carbon capture and storage technology to fight climate change when Canada’s premiers attend their annual meeting this week, market observers said.

Premiers from all 13 Canadian provinces and territories will come together 16-18 July for the premiers’ summer meeting organised by the Council of the Federation, an association formed in 2003 to foster a constructive relationship between the provinces and territories and with the federal government.

Climate change will be one of the main topics of discussion, said the federation.

Video: Toxic Tar Sands

Video: John Vidal asks the oil firms tough questions on their plans for exploiting Canada’s tar sands
What happens when the world’s biggest oil companies target a northern wilderness? John Vidal heads to Canada to ask some tough questions of the oil industry and its intentions in northern Alberta

Rising Costs May Mean Second Upgrader Falls

Rising costs present challenge to second refinery in Saint John

Published Thursday July 10th, 2008

Shell Canada’s decision to scrap plans for a new multi-billion oil refinery in Ontario sheds some light on the challenges facing a second oil refinery in Saint John.

Energy Minister Jack Keir said Shell’s decision shows there are obstacles to Irving Oil and BP’s proposed 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery project in the Port City.