The US State Department released its Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Keystone XL Pipeline project Friday, which received spirited reactions across the energy business and political spectrums. The findings were largely in line with previous Environmental Impact Statements, which concluded Canada’s oil sands resources would likely be developed regardless of the pipeline’s construction.… Keep reading →
The highly controversial Keystone XL pipeline project – that would move Canadian oil sands crude from Alberta to the US Gulf Coast – took a step forward in the drawn-out approval process today when the State Department released its Final Environmental Impact Statement. The statement is mostly favorable – the executive summary is included below.… Keep reading →
It can be hard to maintain a sense of humor while keeping up with all the fast-moving energy business trends unfolding so far this year, but maybe this will help. Toronto resident Josh Culling connected the long-awaited Keystone XL Pipeline decision with news of pop icon and misbehaving teen heart throb Justin Bieber’s inebriated drag-racing… Keep reading →
A lawyer that represents utilities argues in an editorial the EPA’s Cross-state Air Pollution Rule enacted in 2011 causes lesser polluting states to subsidize some of the pollution reduction in states that emit greater volumes of harmful pollutants. The lesser polluting states also tend to have higher electricity costs and would thus be unfairly impacted… Keep reading →
Canadian government negations with energy industry representatives regarding a carbon emissions mitigation strategy have reportedly been underway for the past two years with little to show for the effort. A climate plan could improve the Keystone XL pipeline’s chances of being approved by the US government. [Reuters] The boom and bust cycle that characterizes PTC-dependent… Keep reading →
Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer and his political action committee have taken to the airwaves attempting to urge president Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline. The situation was detailed in a recent New Yorker article and you can read Breaking Energy’s view of the issue here. And here is US Senator Jon Tester’s… Keep reading →
Ryan Lizza’s New Yorker article about the Keystone XL Pipeline project is both insightful and depressing. The piece dissects the issue’s genesis and history, finding the proposed pipeline to be a climate change symbol seized by wealthy activists seeking to influence national politics, while advancing their own political ambitions. Unfortunately, in selecting Keystone XL opposition… Keep reading →
Nonprofit organization Consumer Watchdog released a report this week claiming that the Keystone XL Pipeline project would significantly increase gasoline prices for US consumers, particularly in the Midwest, where the per gallon price could rise by as much as 40 cents. But some question these findings. The report’s main thesis states that companies producing Canadian… Keep reading →
The controversial Keystone XL Pipeline was very much on the agenda at today’s FT Global Investment Series: Focus on Canada event held in New York City, with government officials and business leaders using strong language to underline the importance of US – Canadian trade relations with regard to the pipeline.
“For the record, I would note that is no small irritant to some in Canada that our American friends focus on the current and future emissions from the oil sands while, here in the United States, a far greater environmental impact is caused by hundreds of coal-fired plants that remain in operation,” said Jim Prentice, Senior Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman at CIBC. Keep reading →
Out With Bad Arguments – In With Energy Security
By Energy Tomorrow BlogThe long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline and whether President Obama will agree with a strong majority of Americans who believe that the full project is in the U.S. national interest landed on a couple of year-ending lists of top energy issues, here and here, no doubt reflecting the politics surrounding the pipeline’s five-year federal review. Much of politicizing has been fueled… Keep reading →