Pembina Institute's Oilsands News

Launch of Alberta’s new single regulator leaves room for improvement (blog)

Ben Thibault — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:02:03 +0000

Earlier today, the Government of Alberta launched a new “streamlined” regulator for energy projects in the province. While proponents say the move is an “exciting change” that will usher in “a new era” for energy regulation in Alberta, critics have compared the new single regulator to Frankenstein’s monster, arguing that the government is “building a new creature from old bones.”

With oilsands drilling projects, Ottawa outsources environmental responsibility (blog)

Nathan Lemphers — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:18:55 +0000

Draft regulations tabled by the federal government would keep in situ oilsands development off the list of projects that require federal environmental assessment. By doing so, Ottawa is officially writing itself out of the process that would enable it to responsibly reduce the impacts of oilsands expansion before they occur.

Pembina reacts to British Columbia's rejection of the Northern Gateway Pipeline (media release)

Nathan Lemphers, Kevin Sauvé — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Nathan Lemphers, senior policy analyst with the Pembina Institute, made the following comments in response to British Columbia’s final written argument to the Northern Gateway Panel.

Moving oilsands to market — by pipeline or rail? (blog)

Nathan Lemphers — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:31:37 +0000

Earlier this week, five CP Rail tank cars jumped the tracks just outside of Jansen, Saskatchewan, spilling more than 91,000 litres of crude oil. Last month, a similar derailment near White River, Ontario, resulted in a 63,000-litre oil spill.

While these trains were not carrying bitumen from the oilsands, it’s becoming increasingly common to move oilsands by rail, particularly as public opposition to various new pipeline proposals continues to grow and oilsands producers seek other shipping options.

Harper's recipe for Keystone XL success lacks key ingredients (op-ed)

Clare Demerse — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Clare Demerse, federal policy director at the Pembina Institute, explains why Canada's reluctance to take leadership on climate policy makes Keystone XL a tough sell.

Scientists offer much-needed reality check on climate implications of Ottawa’s resource agenda (blog)

P.J. Partington — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:00:07 +0000

As other countries face up to the climate challenge and begin curbing their demand for fossil fuels, will Canada be left waiting on the shore for tankers that will never come?

Alberta provincial wetland policy (publication)

Pembina Institute — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

A province-wide Alberta wetland policy should ensure that wetlands are protected proactively. This backgrounder documents how this can be done.

No shortage of solutions for environmental issues in oilsands development (op-ed)

Jennifer Grant — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

While last week was the one-year anniversary of the Redford Government, it’s also an anniversary of sorts for the Pembina Institute. Two years ago, we released a road map toward responsible oilsands development that identified 19 key areas where improved environmental rules and management practices need to be strengthened.

Progress update shows little change, two years after road map to responsible oilsands development released (media release)

Simon Dyer, Jennifer Grant — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Two years after the Pembina Institute outlined 19 steps toward responsible oilsands development in a report entitled Solving the Puzzle, very little progress has been made on the recommended policy improvements, according to an update released by the Institute today.

Solving the Puzzle Progress Update 2013 (publication)

Simon Dyer, Jennifer Grant — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

In 2011 the Pembina Institute released Solving the Puzzle — our report outlining 19 policy solutions for responsible oilsands development. Here we evaluate progress to 2013 on implementing the solutions presented in that report.

Pembina Institute to release progress update on road map to responsible oilsands development (media release)

Kevin Sauvé — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Pembina reacts to BC NDP leader Adrian Dix’s opposition to Kinder Morgan’s proposal to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline (media release)

Matt Horne — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Matt Horne, climate change program director at the Pembina Institute, made the following comments in response to BC NDP leader Adrian Dix’s opposition to Kinder Morgan’s proposal to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Strengthening Alberta’s greenhouse gas regulations (publication)

Simon Dyer — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Alberta’s Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) is due for renewal in 2014, and the Government of Alberta is currently considering revisions to the regulation. A stronger SGER would help Alberta reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance social license to operate for sectors, such as the oilsands, that face continued scrutiny of environmental performance.

This briefing note outlines the Pembina Institute's perspective on how Alberta needs to strengthen its greenhouse gas regulations.

Tales from the National Inventory: a look at Canada’s latest greenhouse gas emissions report (blog)

P.J. Partington — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:06:22 +0000

Each spring, as the tulips are starting to bloom in Ottawa, Environment Canada releases its annual compendium of greenhouse gas emissions data. Here are three stories that emerged from our first look at the report.

What Minister Oliver didn’t read (blog)

P.J. Partington — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:00:53 +0000

Canada’s Natural Resources minister, Joe Oliver, recently shared his views on climate change and energy with La Presse. The Minister is quoted that he did not read the climate change section of the IEA report or their warning about locking into a path to dangerous climate change. To hopefully inform his next briefing, I’ve summarized the two scenarios below.

Albertans don’t just pay to ride the resource rollercoaster — they risk having to clean up once the carnival leaves town (blog)

Nathan Lemphers — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:56:10 +0000

There’s a carnival in town, and everyone is talking about its main attraction — the mighty resource rollercoaster that is taking Alberta’s and Canada’s economies for a wild ride. Albertans are already paying a premium at the ticket booth, but few have noticed the fine print on the bottom of the receipt: once the carnival leaves town, ticketholders may be left paying for the cleanup costs.

How carbon pricing currently works in Alberta (blog)

P.J. Partington — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:47:30 +0000

In Alberta’s current carbon pricing system, called the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER), major industrial facilities must reduce their “emissions intensity” (i.e. emissions per unit of production) by up to 12 per cent, relative to their typical performance or “baseline” level. The target phases in over time, reaching the full 12 per cent requirement in a facility’s ninth year of operation, and remains at 12 per cent after that.

What you need to know about Alberta’s 40/40 carbon pricing proposal (blog)

Simon Dyer — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:24:20 +0000

News broke this week that Alberta is considering strengthening greenhouse gas regulations on the province’s energy industry. The so-called “40/40” plan proposed by the Environment Minister Diana McQueen would increase Alberta’s intensity-based emissions target and its carbon price. The very mention of such a move has kicked off a long-overdue conversation about what it’s going to take to curtail greenhouse gas pollution and develop Alberta’s resources responsibly.

Strong oil and gas regulations can get Canada on track to 2020 target (op-ed)

Clare Demerse — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

In a new report released today, the Pembina Institute laid out a set of recommendations for effective regulation on the oil and gas sector’s greenhouse gas pollution.

New report outlines criteria for effective greenhouse gas regulations on Canada’s oil and gas sector (media release)

Clare Demerse, Kevin Sauvé — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

New recommendations released today by the Pembina Institute set the bar for forthcoming federal greenhouse gas regulations by showing what’s needed from the oil and gas sector to get Canada on track to hit its national climate target.