Chief Gerald Amos Chief of the Haisla Nation has written a response to claims by Minister of Natural Resources, Joe Oliver, that radical environmental groups funded by foreign interests are hijacking the debate surrounding the proposed Enbridge pipeline. Read his response in the Huffington Post.
The BC government recently launched a new website, FracFocus.ca that provides information on chemicals used in the fracking process at particular sites. Although the government is requiring oil and gas companies to provide the information, they are not required to do so until 30 days after they have completed their project.
A decade ago, Alberta allowed consumers the option of buying electricity from private companies. Those that took the plunge, roughly 30% of Albertans, are now facing significantly higher energy costs than those who stuck with the provincial regulated option. In some cases, energy costs are double what the public sector is charging.
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Energy | January 11, 2012
The BC government's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one third will not be attainable if plans for three new liquid nitrogen plants go through. While the first two will be powered by electricity the third and the largest one, will be fueled by natural gas. The government has said it hopes to stores emissions underground, but carbon sequestering is still in the developmental stages.
The cost of solar energy in Germany has dropped 50% since 2007 and the results of that price drop have been dramatic. Last year alone demand for solar energy led to a 60% increase in its use. Solar power consumption has increased largely due to government incentives to make the energy more affordable to consumers. This year those incentives will decrease by 15% this year, but consumption is still expected to rise. The incentives have allowed the industry to grow and in turn to reduce its costs to consumers.
The Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission will be selling the methane gas emitted from its landfill's waste to NB Power. The methane will be converted to electricity, enough to run 2,000 homes. The 6 million dollar project is expected to generate 20 million dollars over 20 years . Read more at the CBC
A report released by Canada's Commissioner on the Environment, Scott Vaughan criticizes Environment Canada for failing to regulate and punish polluting industries. The report describes a lack of knowledge and consistency within the organization. Read more at the CBC.
After complaints about the water started to flood in from residents of Pavilion, Wyoming, the EPA decided to do some testing. Results showed "that ground water in the Pavilion aquifer contain[ed] methane, benzene, other petroleum hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds." The toxic chemicals are suspected to be the result of nearby fracking.
In 2009 the Province handed BC municipalities more regulatory power. Local governments have taken advantage of new bylaws and regulatory powers to promote sustainability. From curbside composting, to encouraging energy efficiency to promoting cycling through bike lines, local governments are accomplishing many great things despite the limited revenue at their disposal. Read more in the Tyee.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is warning that time is running out for halting the dangerous effects of climate change. The agency is warning that current fuel-based energy initiatives that are continuing to be built will create a lock-in effect within 5 years that will cause irrevocable damage to the earth. The warning comes as an analysis shows that "emissions had risen by a record amount in 2010 despite the worst recession for 80 years.
