seftonm
04-05-2011, 10:59 PM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Canadian_Flag.jpg One of the questions to be framed is whether we want the Americans to be our only customer for oil and gas (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Clean+energy+could+become+sleeper+issue+campaign/4555133/story.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/GreenupHydro.jpgL. Ian Macdonald - OTTAWACITIZEN (http://www.ottawacitizen.com) - April 5, 2011
Without a defining issue, there's a sleeper: energy, or rather clean energy.
In endorsing Newfoundland and Labrador's plan to develop the 3,200 megawatts of electricity on the Lower Churchill last week, Conservative leader Stephen Harper framed it as part of "supporting clean-energy projects in every region of the country."
He added: "This project will reduce carbon emissions by 4.5 million tonnes each year — the equivalent of taking 3.2 million cars off the road."
Hydroelectricity is considered a clean energy resource. By contrast, the coal-fired electricity industry in the United States has a carbon footprint 64 times larger than the Canadian oilsands.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the country, the Alberta oilsands already account for 55 per cent of our exports of 2.4 million barrels a day to the U.S. And oilsands production is expected to double from here to 2015.
The question is whether the U.S. should remain our sole market, or whether alternative markets, notably China, should be developed across the Pacific.
There's only one way to get this done, and that's by building the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline to a deepwater port at Kitimat in British Columbia.
While Harper was making his energy announcement in Newfoundland, Enbridge president and CEO Patrick Daniel was before the Empire Club in Toronto, making a pitch for the Northern Gateway project.
We like to think of ourselves as an energy superpower, Daniel said: "But we're not one yet. It will require strong leadership, strategic vision and focused effort over several years."
He added: "Our energy resources are already a tremendous strategic advantage for Canada, but will provide full value only if we choose to use, develop and make them available to the rest of the world."
There's no denying that as the advocate of a multibillion-dollar pipeline project, Daniel has a vested interest in its success. And there's no denying the obstacles to it getting built: there are obvious environmental issues, and 50 First Nations, along the proposed route. Then there's the question of supertankers coming into the deepwater port, and the possibility of an oil spill on Canada's pristine West Coast.... http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Clean+energy+could+become+sleeper+issue+campaign/4555133/story.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/GreenupHydro.jpgL. Ian Macdonald - OTTAWACITIZEN (http://www.ottawacitizen.com) - April 5, 2011
Without a defining issue, there's a sleeper: energy, or rather clean energy.
In endorsing Newfoundland and Labrador's plan to develop the 3,200 megawatts of electricity on the Lower Churchill last week, Conservative leader Stephen Harper framed it as part of "supporting clean-energy projects in every region of the country."
He added: "This project will reduce carbon emissions by 4.5 million tonnes each year — the equivalent of taking 3.2 million cars off the road."
Hydroelectricity is considered a clean energy resource. By contrast, the coal-fired electricity industry in the United States has a carbon footprint 64 times larger than the Canadian oilsands.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the country, the Alberta oilsands already account for 55 per cent of our exports of 2.4 million barrels a day to the U.S. And oilsands production is expected to double from here to 2015.
The question is whether the U.S. should remain our sole market, or whether alternative markets, notably China, should be developed across the Pacific.
There's only one way to get this done, and that's by building the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline to a deepwater port at Kitimat in British Columbia.
While Harper was making his energy announcement in Newfoundland, Enbridge president and CEO Patrick Daniel was before the Empire Club in Toronto, making a pitch for the Northern Gateway project.
We like to think of ourselves as an energy superpower, Daniel said: "But we're not one yet. It will require strong leadership, strategic vision and focused effort over several years."
He added: "Our energy resources are already a tremendous strategic advantage for Canada, but will provide full value only if we choose to use, develop and make them available to the rest of the world."
There's no denying that as the advocate of a multibillion-dollar pipeline project, Daniel has a vested interest in its success. And there's no denying the obstacles to it getting built: there are obvious environmental issues, and 50 First Nations, along the proposed route. Then there's the question of supertankers coming into the deepwater port, and the possibility of an oil spill on Canada's pristine West Coast.... http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Clean+energy+could+become+sleeper+issue+campaign/4555133/story.html