Carbon Capture Under Fire

Carbon capture under fire
By GABRIEL ZARATE, SRJ Reporter 16.JUL.08

The Alberta government has allotted $2 billion to pursue carbon capture and storage (CCS) at a time when some environmentalists are questioning the worth of the process.
A relatively new technology, carbon storage is supposed to keep millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide gas from being released into the atmosphere by industries such as oilsands extraction or coal-fired power generation.

Stelmach getting heat from all sides

Get off Alberta’s back:MLA
The Stelmach government is getting it from all sides as both domestic and international criticism mount against Alberta’s oil sands development.

Christopher Heffernan
Wednesday July 16, 2008

The Stelmach government is getting it from all sides as both domestic and international criticism mount against Alberta’s oil sands development.
Lloyd Snelgrove is not only a cabinet minister and close friend to the premier, but he has also been tasked by his boss to “create a strategic plan for developing the oil sands region.”
This weighty task puts the Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA front-and-center in the debate over the CO2 emissions being created by Alberta’s massive oil sands projects.

EcoSanity: Pimping the Tar Sands

EcoSanity runs video of the Premier of Alberta pimping for tar sands exploitation and intersperses it with funny, snarky comments about his bald-faced lies (Yes, they will deeply respect the environment, right.) Added bonus: A protester gets ejected from the meeting.

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

Big Oil Worries Are High

Technology, markets to drive rise in Canadian oil sands production

Steven Poruban Senior Editor

CALGARY, July 16 — Production of Canadian oil sands bitumen will continue to rise in the coming decades but not without advances in processing technologies and the adoption by producers of varied strategies to market the resulting heavy crude blends.

These were some of the issues raised by speakers July 15 during the opening session of the second annual Oil Sands & Heavy Oil Technologies Conference & Exhibition in Calgary. The inaugural 2-day conference, held in July 2007, also in Calgary, drew more than 880 oil sands executives and senior personnel and more than 50 exhibitors.

Tensions were palpable at the opening session regarding one topic in particular—yet to be discussed fully by conference delegates—likely to serve as this year’s 900-lb gorilla sitting in the middle of industry’s living room: growing concerns in Canada about “finicky talk in the US about the type of oil it allows to cross its borders.

This hot-button topic has its impetus in a resolution adopted last month by the US Conference of Mayors modeled on a section in last year’s Energy Independence and Security Act that raised alarm about potential environmental drawbacks of oil sands. The resolution calls for bans on purchases for use in city vehicles of any fuel with life-cycle emissions of greenhouse gases deemed excessive (OGJ, July 7, 2008, p. 21). Canadian oil sands producers’ concerns hinge largely on such a resolution gaining serious political steam during an already strongly polarized presidential election in the US.

B.C. tops Suzuki green rankings as oil-rich provinces bring up the rear

OTTAWA — A new report by the David Suzuki Foundation ranking provincial and territorial climate change plans gives low marks to oil-rich Alberta and Saskatchewan, while lauding British Columbia for its recently implemented carbon tax.

The report likewise singles out Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario as “progressive provinces” for their plans to tackle carbon dioxide emissions.

The Maritime provinces and Nunavut garnered a “fair” rating for their climate-change policies, while the plans of Newfoundland, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan were deemed “poor.”

Alberta was pegged as having the worst plan to confront the country’s changing climate.

Alberta Worst Offender on Climate Change

New report shows provincial action on climate change heating up (except in Alberta)

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         July 16, 2008

QUEBEC CITY – Most provinces (Alberta not included) are stepping up with strong targets and policies to reduce greenhouse gases in the absence of federal leadership on climate change, says a new David Suzuki Foundation report.

Greenjobs Needed

« New Green Package drives European sustainability

Busy roads linked to allergies in children »

July 13, 2008

Youth summit raises awareness on tar sands

Edmonton, Alberta – Over 150 young environmental, labour and social justice activists from across Canada attended the third Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (CYCC) summit in Edmonton earlier this month, according to the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW). The summit, held at the University of Alberta, was organized to raise awareness on the environmental destruction caused by rapidly expanding tar sands in northern Alberta.

Fun with Numbers: Gov’t’s new plan a lot of hot air

Fun with numbers

Calgary Herald

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Re: “Alberta pumps $4B into eco plan,” July 9.

The premier’s new climate sham is trying to win over Albertans by emphasizing transportation, which we need. But it’s not a solution to the climate crisis, nor does it address the other environmental and health implications of tarsands development — air pollution, the clearcutting of the boreal forest, water contamination, cancer rates in downstream communities and wildlife deaths. This climate sham is also relying on carbon capture and sequestration, an incredibly expensive and unproven technology with extremely long lead times.

Economy or the Environment

The Economy and The Environment – Can They Coexist?

Canada’s Harper government has been blasted by many for not taking aggressive action against climate change. However, the Canadian economy is largely upheld by the ultra-dirty tar-sands industry. Is there a way to balance the environment and the economy?If the Canadian government were a person, it would have both its hands full. In one, the feds have to protect and promote the internationally accepted image of Canada as a vast and green, environmentally forward nation. In the other, the Canadian government has to, quietly but effectively, ensure the economic stability of the nation, which in turn means protecting the dirty business of tar-sand oil production.But before we analyze the predicament that is trying to be both environmentally forward and pro-oil production, consider this. In 2007, according to the CIA, Canadian exports totaled $569.3 billion dollars, while Canadian imports totaled $555.2 billion; thereby resulting in a $14.1 billion dollar trade surplus at the end of 2007 – a crucial statistic that in turn allowed the feds to pay off some of the Canadian national debt.

However, included in the $569.3 billion dollars are the profits derived from the 2.274 million barrels of oil that are exported each day. When we subtract the 1.185 million barrels of oil that are imported daily, Canada produces for export and profit roughly 1.089 million barrels of oil a day. And if the average price for one barrel of oil was a meager $125 per barrel (it is currently $147), those 1.089 million barrels of exported oil would translate into a $49.685 billion dollar a year input into the Canadian economy. In other words, Canadian oil production and exportation is the pivotal factor that determines whether the Canadian economy records a surplus or a deficit at the end of each year.