Pembina Institute
Premier Stelmach Goes to Washington
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach recently announced that he would "force" an end to tailings ponds. The recent ruling by the Alberta Energy and Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) on Syncrude's tailings management plan seemingly contradicts the Premier's comments (and it's own rules for that matter).
With the Premier headed to the U.S. capital, the Pembina Institute's Danielle Droitsch weighs in:
This week Premier Ed Stelmach jet set his way to Washington, D.C. He's talking oil sands and based on the premier's recent statements, he might be inclined to overpromise (and under-deliver).
Link: Oil sands PR blitz heads to Washington, D.C. Read More
The economics of an oil spill
More reaction from AEN groups on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Pembina Institute's Mike Kennedy writes about the economics of an oil spill on Pembina's Green Economics blog.
Gulf Oil Spill: AEN Groups Weigh In
With the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico dominating the environmental news, AEN member groups are weighing in on the spill and the potential implications on Canada and Alberta.
The Pembina Institute's Karen Campbell posts an op-ed on the implications of the spill on Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. This pipeline is proposed to run from Edmonton to a new tanker terminal in Kitimat, B.C.; and will help bring the products of Alberta's oilsands industry to new markets.
Meanwhile, Sierra Club Canada has called for a moratorium on offshore oil drilling in Canada.
The oil spill in the Gulf is a catastrophe,” said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada. “Canada should fully understand the causes of the explosion in the Gulf and the failure of the clean up before allowing any more drilling in Canadian waters. In the meantime a moratorium should be put in place.
Greenpeace Canada urges Canadians to email the Prime Minister and tell him:
…the threat of such a catastrophy [sic] in our waters is unacceptable. We must cut our addiction to oil and support renewable energy
Thought Leaders' Forum on Wind Power & Cogen in Alberta
The Pembina Institute and the the University of Calgary's Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) recently hosted a Thought Leaders' Forum focused on wind power and cogeneration in Alberta.
Pembina has posted videos from the Forum featuring a variety of perspectives including Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith.
Visit the website to view more interviews and to download the summary report. Read More
Delays to U.S. climate law no excuse for Canada to stall
Matthew Bramley, Director of the Pembina Institute's Climate change Program blogs about recent delays in the U.S. Congress to pass climate legislation, and how Canada shouldn't use these delays as an excuse for inaction.
Read the post on the Pembina website. Read More
Oil sands regulator does not enforce toxic tailings rules
Syncrude is given a pass to delay liquid tailings clean up
One day after Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced he would "force an end to tailings ponds," Alberta's oil sands regulator, the Alberta Energy and Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), has approved plans for Syncrude that do not comply with Alberta's Directive 074 and would delay implementation of liquid tailings clean up by the oil sands company. Read More
Pembina Institute opens Washington Bureau
With all eyes on U.S. energy and climate policy, Pembina introduces Director of U.S. Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the Canadian federal government determined to tie Ottawa's climate and energy policy to Washington's, the Pembina Institute announced today that it has established an on-the-ground presence in the U.S. capital. Read More
Citizen's Guide to Climate Change in Alberta
Global climate change may alter our way of life in Alberta and around the world forever. In light of this, Alberta Acts has come up with a concise Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change in Alberta. The guide summarizes the potential impacts of climate change, highlights current Canadian and Albertan climate change policies, and identifies some potential paths forward. Read more…
In Alberta Acts’ Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change in Alberta, we cover the following topics: Read More
Pembina Reacts: Federal Government Undermining Environmental Assessment of Oil Sands Development
Simon Dyer, Oil Sands Director for the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to measures in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s Budget Implementation Bill (Part 20, Environmental Assessment, Bill C-9) that empower the federal government to avoid full environmental assessment of oil sands development:
“Over the past several years the Government of Canada has been trying to dodge its responsibilities for environmental assessment of proposed oil sands developments. This has led to a number of successful court challenges in which it was deemed that the government was not fulfilling its obligation to assess projects and protect the environmental interests of Canadians. Read More