Here’s one that somebody missed. Apparently Section 526 of the Energy Bill signed into law by Bush less than a month ago stated that the U.S. government would not purchase transportation fuel from nonconventional petroleum sources that have higher life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from production and combustion than equivalent conventional fuel. That means that the … Read More
oil sands
SEC Re-examines Oil Sands Reserves
Interesting move this one, which could far-reaching implications for both the oil majors and the climate as it could make it easier for people to invest in oil sands. The US Securities and Exchange Commission is looking at putting Alberta’s oil sands reserves on the same footing as conventional crude oil.
Oil Sands Companies Fail in Green Audit
A new report comparing the environmental performance of Alberta’s oilsands producers against each other has found that even the winners have little to brag about. The groundbreaking study by the Pembina Institute and the World Wildlife Fund, compares 10 operating and proposed oilsands mines using data supplied by the companies and publicly available government sources.
And Happy Xmas to Big Coal as Well..
And its Happy Xmas to Big Coal too. Britain plans to build eight new coal power stations as part of the country’s efforts to address its looming energy crisis. Although it is an early Christmas present to Big Coal, it will completely undermine the Bali agreement on climate change and discredit Britain’s efforts to reduce … Read More
‘The Biggest Evironmental Crime in History’
Last week we blogged about the irony of BP’s signing a new oil sands development at the same time as Bali Climate conference. Now the Independent is having a great go too at the oil giant.The issue takes the lead in today’s paper. The Inde says: “BP, the British oil giant that pledged to move … Read More
Meanwhile BP Pumps Billions into Oil Sands
Oh the cruel irony. As delegates in Bali are joined by low lying Pacific Islanders alarmed at the rate that homes are submerging under water, its business as usual for the oil industry. Their message to Bali is: two-fingers to you. Yesterday BP teamed up with the Canadian oil group Husky Energy in a multibillion-dollar … Read More
PetroCanada Backs Oil Sands Despite Royalty Increases
Higher royalties in Alberta will not hurt the “overall viability” of Petro-Canada oil sands projects, but some planned investment in conventional oil and gas in the province will be affected, CEO Ron Brenneman said yesterday. “At least at this point [the oil sands] still look like pretty solid projects and I think that’s because for … Read More
US: Oil Sands are “Threat Number One”
Anyone who read yesterday’s blog on oil sands will know it’s a fuel with serious ecological and social problems. Well, Canadian oil sands producers should brace for further bad news – this time from south of the border. David Pumphrey, a former official in the Department of Energy and now a senior fellow at the … Read More
The “Dark Side” of Oil Sands
People concerned about the environmental and social downside of the tar sands boom, should read the Guardian today, with a long feature on the “dark side” of the frontier town of Fort McMurray, which is an oil sands boom town – going from a “a small town becoming a major city, and a major economic … Read More
Canada: Oil Major Warns of $20-billion in Cuts
The backlash against increasing royalties in Alberta’s oil and gas sector continues. Canadian Natural Resources is warning that oil sands projects worth more than $20-billion could be shelved if proposals to increase royalties are fully adopted. It joins a chorus of dire warnings from the energy sector. In the oil sands, Canadian Natural’s $7.6-billion Horizon … Read More