Stop the Hogs!

Need for national energy strategy as strong as ever

[ http://calgaryherald.com/business/energ ... -this-week ]

Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Herald Published on: July 14, 2015 | Last Updated: July 14, 2015 11:04 AM MDT

Word has it there will be progress made on advancing a Canadian energy strategy when the premiers meet in St. John’s, N.L., later this week.

If that’s the case, it will be a fitting coda to the conversations that took place amidst the corporate functions during Calgary Stampede week, which finished on Sunday.

The top five topics discussed over the last 10 days not only included Alberta-specific issues such as the royalty review and climate change panels, but also the need for market diversification, the importance of putting a credible price on carbon and resolving First Nations issues.

There was also some commentary focused on how to move the conversation on energy to a national level that engages Canadians, closes the energy literacy gap and potentially makes the lack of progress on energy infrastructure an issue in the coming federal election.

All this is particularly top of mind given the dramatic percentage drop in oil prices since this time last year and the growing oil production from shale formations south of the border. The fact Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that it is on track to surpass Russia as the world’s largest oil producer, as well as the heightened likelihood of an agreement with Iran that will end sanctions and allow that country to move toward increasing its oil production, once again underscores the importance of getting a world price for Alberta’s oil production; a made-in-North-America price is in the best interest of neither the province nor the country.

Low oil prices aside, the future growth of Canada’s energy sector is inextricably tied to achieving market access, which requires reconciling the carbon emissions associated with that growth. And contrary to what many might think, it’s as much a national issue as a continental one.

In the absence of a coherent plan put forward by the federal government, the provinces have pushed ahead with various systems ranging from a carbon tax in British Columbia, to an intensity-based levy on large emitters in Alberta, to a cap-and-trade system in Quebec, which Ontario is about to implement as well.

According to a paper released on Monday by the Canada West Foundation entitled Patchwork Pollution Solution — Stitching Together a Canadian Climate Plan, when Ontario’s system links with Quebec, 75 per cent of the country will be under a carbon price. That the systems are different reflects the diverse nature of provincial economies as well as the energy sources each use for the purposes of generating electricity.

The fact that Alberta and Saskatchewan account for 45 per cent of Canada’s emissions but represent no more than 15 per cent of the population is indicative of the fact a one-size-fits-all approach to carbon management is neither practical nor feasible.

But it is also inefficient on all levels — from the perspective of governmental administrative challenges to the lack of consistency amongst the various jurisdictions across the country — and drives up costs to companies.

This week’s meetings present the opportunity for what Trevor McLeod, director of the Centre for Natural Resources Policy at the CWF, calls a grand bargain for a credible quid pro quo amongst the provinces to advance a national carbon strategy that, in return, breaks the logjam on an issue such as market access.

MORE:

[ http://calgaryherald.com/business/energ ... -this-week ]

Premiers conference could see clash over pipelines and emissions

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/premier ... -1.3154166 ]

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall signals growing frustration with Ontario, Quebec

By Chris Hall, CBC News Posted: Jul 16, 2015 5:00 AM ET| Last Updated: Jul 16, 2015 11:38 AM ET

Canada's longest serving premier isn't happy. Not one bit. And Brad Wall is letting some of his colleagues know it before he arrives in St. John's for the annual meeting of the country's provincial and territorial leaders.

Wall told reporters in his home province of Saskatchewan that Ontario and Quebec should get out of the way of proposals to build or convert pipelines to carry oil from west to east.

And he said it's high time Central Canada stops treating this country's oil industry as some kind of environmental liability, rather than as an economic benefit that's being shared, via transfer payments, with the entire country.

"We've been contributing mightily to equalization, and I just don't think this kind of talk is welcome, frankly," Wall said Wednesday.

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Ontario's Kathleen Wynne wasn't responding to questions Wednesday at a reception welcoming premiers to St. John's. But she indicated she'll have plenty to say today when premiers hold their first session in the Hotel Newfoundland, overlooking St. John's historic harbour.

Ontario and Quebec recently announced an agreement to implement a cap and trade system to reduce emissions. Wynne is aiming to reduce her province's emissions by a whopping 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

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Wynne has been pushing the green agenda hard.

"Ontario and Quebec have agreed on joint principles to help us define a common front to ensure that the project offers safety and protection for the environment, promotes social acceptability and optimizes the economic impacts," she said before heading to the premiers meeting.

Linking pipelines and emissions

To Saskatchewan, that sounds suspiciously like the two provinces won't approve any pipeline projects unless Wall brings in climate change policies they like.

It promises to be good fodder today, a discussion that has much broader implications in the lead-up to a federal campaign in which the economy, energy security and competing regional demands could spell the difference between victory and defeat.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has spent years trying to unlock negotiations over pipelines to the west, pipelines to the south and now pipelines to the east. Environmental reviews have been streamlined inside Canada. He's lectured the Americans on the need to approve Keystone XL.

For all his efforts, nothing has been built. No pipeline has been approved, not even the proposed reversal or conversion of existing pipelines to carry oil from west to east.

MORE:

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/premier ... -1.3154166 ]

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Alberta Premier Notley says Saskatchewan's Preem Wall is just 'showboating'

[ http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/07/16/a ... howboating ]

By Matt Dykstra, Edmonton Sun

First posted: Thursday, July 16, 2015 02:23 PM MDT | Updated: Thursday, July 16, 2015 03:49 PM MDT

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is doing "a little bit of showboating" in his defense of Canada's oil and gas industry while refuting criticism that Alberta is leaving crucial energy decisions in the hands of eastern provinces.

The evolving political spat flared Thursday during Council of the Federation meetings in St. Johns, NL, after Wall told reporters Wednesday that no province should be holding up pipeline approvals based on environmental concerns and "maybe we need to have equalization payments start flowing through a pipeline to finally get one approved through Central Canada."

Notley, who recently said that Quebec's approval of TransCanada's Energy East pipeline partly hinges on Alberta's ability to get tough on climate change, rejected suggestions that she's opening the door to allowing other provinces to veto pipeline projects.

"You don't get things done by picking fights with people gratuitously. You do get things done by having good conversations so because I'm doing that does not, by any means, mean that I'm handing off anybody's responsibility or authority and to suggest so is simply ridiculous and a bit naive," said Notley in an interview with CBC News.

"Other premiers can do a little bit of showboating if that's what they want to do."

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[ http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/07/16/a ... howboating ]

Premiers' Canadian Energy Strategy leaves door open for tar sands expansion and pipelines

[ http://canadians.org/media/premiers-can ... -pipelines ]

Media Availability July 17, 2015

OTTAWA – The Council of Canadians is available to comment on the Canadian Energy Strategy signed by premiers at the Council of the Federation meeting that threatens to fast-track oil pipelines without making firm commitments for absolute reductions in climate pollution.

“We need leadership from premiers to address the climate crisis and the Canadian Energy Strategy agreed to falls short,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “It is positive to see commitments to improved energy efficiency and renewable power, but this must be matched by commitments to absolute emission reductions and a halt to tar sands expansion. The strategy allows for more oil pipelines. Current proposals on the table threaten to allow enough tar sands expansion to make meaningful climate pollution cuts nearly impossible.”

“It is no small irony that Alberta is experiencing one of Canada’s biggest pipeline spills while premiers have finalized a Canadian Energy Strategy that gives spaces for massive tar sands pipelines like Kinder Morgan and Energy East,” says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “Halting extreme energy expansion, including tar sands infrastructure by pipeline and rail, fracking and offshore drilling, is essential, as is respecting Indigenous rights, better regulating the oil and gas industry, shifting subsidies to climate solutions and supporting good jobs that reduce our climate footprint. This should be the bedrock of a Canadian Energy Strategy, and there are plenty of ways premiers can achieve this.”

Barlow has been raising the alarm - Liquid Pipeline: Extreme energy’s threat to the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, March 2014 [ http://canadians.org/sites/default/file ... al-web.pdf ] about the impacts on water and climate of the increasing shift to new intensive extraction methods as conventional sources of fossil fuels dry up. These new methods require more energy and water, creating more pollution and destruction. -30-

Contact:

Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Campaigner,
Council of Canadians
Cell: 613-793-5488

Canadians entitled to “realistic” Canadian Energy Strategy

[ http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2015/07/ ... -strategy/ ]

July 17, 2015 PRESS RELEASE For immediate release

Premiers’ climate commitments require priority be given to clean energy investments.

Ottawa, Canada. July 17, 2015 – Premiers today agreed to a Canadian Energy Strategy that fails to strongly steer the country toward the clean, renewable energy system needed to cut carbon pollution and protect the climate.

The Strategy commits provinces to a non-discriminatory approach to energy and energy transmission across Canada when what’s needed is public policy favouring clean, renewable energy over the oil, coal and natural gas unbalancing the climate system.

“Governments discriminate against smoking and toxics in food and consumer products. What’s need(ed) now is discriminatory policy against fossil fuels if we are going to drastically reduce the carbon pollution putting our health and well-being at risk,” says Louise Comeau, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada.

Comeau added that future job creation will not come from outdated energy investments, but rather from participating in the transition to a clean energy system. According to Clean Energy Canada’s 2015 report on renewable energy trends, global investors moved USD$295 billion in 2014 into renewable energy-generation projects—an increase of 17 percent over 2013¹ . Canada needs to focus on this growing market to create the climate friendly jobs that we need.

We see potential with ongoing implementation of the Strategy to shift emphasis toward a clean energy system. Premiers today asked that their energy ministers undertake a series of tasks aimed at implementing the Strategy relating to:

•Energy Efficiency – Review opportunities to implement or expand minimum energy efficiency performance policies such as increased standards, as a means to drive update of energy efficiency improvements.

• Delivering Energy to People – Identify and advance the type, nature and quantity of energy products by provinces and territory (region) which require new and enhanced transportation and transmission infrastructure.

• Climate Change and Transition to a Lower Carbon Economy – To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, explore the potential to expand the use of market-based carbon management mechanisms across Canada and identify elements and opportunities to promote collaboration and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs in various sectors responsible for greenhouse gas emissions such as energy, transportation and manufacturing.

•Technology and Innovation – Support the development of new energy technologies and improve access to affordable, clean, renewable and reliable supplies of energy in off-grid communities.”

We urge premiers to ensure that clean energy analysis and policy coordination be prioritized over fossil fuels as they move to implement the Canadian Energy Strategy.

For more information contact:
Dr. Louise Comeau
lcomeau@climateactionnetwork.ca
1-506-238-0355

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1 [ http://cleanenergycanada.org/resources/reports/ ]