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Five Things You Need to Know About the Cancellation of the Energy East Oilsands Pipeline

October 9, 2017

Five Things You Need to Know About the Cancellation of the Energy East Oilsands Pipeline

Alberta oilsands

Announced via press release on Thursday, the news confirmed long-held suspicions that the $15.7 billion, 4,500 km oilsands pipeline simply wouldn’t cut it in today’s economic context.

But that hasn’t stopped commentators on all sides from pouncing on the cancellation as proof of their political project. Conservative politicians have lambasted the federal Liberals for introducing carbon pricing and new rules on pipeline applications, while environmentalists have claimed the company’s decision was a direct result of their organizing.

DeSmog Canada is here to help wade through the mess. Here are five things you should know about the cancelled Alberta-to-New Brunswick pipeline.

1. Energy East was primarily for export

Perhaps the most lingering myth about Energy East was that it would be built to displace foreign oil imports in Eastern Canada.

In fact, that very notion was repeated by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley in her Facebook post about the cancellation: “We believe this nation-building project would have benefited all of Canada through new jobs, investment, energy security and the ability to displace oil being imported into Canada from overseas and the United States,” she wrote.

Except it’s never been true.

An application by TransCanada to the National Energy Board back in May 2016 indicated that it would ship an estimated 281 tankers per year of oil, equivalent to about 900,000 barrels per day. That’s more than 80 per cent of the pipeline’s planned 1.1 million barrel per day capacity, leaving around 200,000 barrels per day to be refined at New Brunswick’s Irving Oil refineries.

That’s far below the 736,000 barrels per day that TransCanada suggested is being imported from foreign countries due to a lack of a west-to-east pipeline. In addition, Irving Oil’s president suggested in 2016 that his company wouldn’t necessarily displace its use of cheaper barrels from Saudi Arabia with product from Alberta.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

TransCanada announces major contract for Energy East pipeline

February 3, 2016

TransCanada announces major contract for Energy East pipeline 

Project is controversial, with Montreal and nearby mayors opposed on environmental grounds

TransCanada's proposed pipeline project would carry 1.1 million barrels a day from Alberta through Quebec to an export terminal in Saint John.

TransCanada’s proposed pipeline project would carry 1.1 million barrels a day from Alberta through Quebec to an export terminal in Saint John. (Canadian Press)

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

The Calgary-based company planning to build the Energy East pipeline says it has signed a provisional multimillion-dollar order for the construction of 22 modular enclosures along the pipeline route.

TransCanada Corp. officials say their deal with ABB Canada would create 120 direct jobs in Quebec and a further 90 spinoff jobs outside the greater Montreal area.

But there’s a catch: the jobs would materialize only if regulators approve the controversial pipeline project.

The proposal has run into major opposition in Quebec, with the mayors of Montreal and dozens of surrounding municipalities saying the project’s environmental risks outweigh its economic benefits.

The $15.7-billion Energy East pipeline would carry a million barrels a day of western crude as far east as Saint John to serve domestic refineries and international customers.

The project would include the existing TransCanada pipeline as far east as Montreal and would require the construction of 1,600 kilometres of new pipeline, including a long section that would run through Quebec to the south coast of New Brunswick.

Construction possible by 2018

If the federal government and the National Energy Board give their OK, TransCanada has said it could begin construction by 2018. The pipeline would be ready for use by 2020.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

TransCanada cuts 185 jobs as it restructures

June 24, 2015

TransCanada cuts 185 jobs as it restructures

Pipeline company eliminates jobs to remain competitive and cut costs

Keystone XL proponent TransCanada Corp. has laid off 185 people in its major projects department, most of them in Calgary.

The jobs that were cut on Tuesday included about 100 full-time employees while the rest were contract workers.

As a pipeline operator, TransCanada has remained profitable through the oil downturn. In the first quarter, it earned $387 compared to $412 million for the same period in 2014. However, the industry it serves with its pipelines had a collective loss of more than $600 million over the same period.

In an e-mail, TransCanada’s spokesman, Mark Cooper said the company cut the positions as part of a restructuring  to control costs and remain competitive.

Cooper said TransCanada needs to provide low-cost services as its customers have been deeply affected by the current low-price environment that has left companies in the oilpatch struggling.

TransCanada is working to move forward on a number of projects, including the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Energy East pipeline.

Both projects have faced delays and regulatory hurdles. The company has about 6,000 employees across North America.

 

Political Will Pushing Energy East Pipeline In Canada

December 4, 2014

Political Will Pushing Energy East Pipeline In Canada

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice met his Ontario peer Kathleen Wynne Wednesday as he presses for approval of TransCanada’s (NYSE, TSE:TRP) proposed Energy East pipeline, which would pass through the Central Canadian province.

After their first face-to-face meeting they sounded conciliatory, saying they consider the controversial $12 billion project as a “nation-building” exercise.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard released last month a list of seven conditions for the proposed pipeline, which would carry western crude to refineries located on the opposite side of the country. The most important of them is the potential impact of the pipeline on the environment.

But Wynne, reports Canadian Press, says her concerns about the pipeline’s contribution to climate change are limited to greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario and in Quebec from the pipeline project itself.

She added that the seven principles do not extend to “so-called upstream emissions resulting from getting the crude out of the ground, refining and burning it.”

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Closing the gate after the horse left the barn: TransCanada fires Edelman | – Environmental Defence

November 30, 2014

Closing the gate after the horse left the barn: TransCanada fires Edelman | – Environmental Defence.

Yesterday, TransCanada fired its PR firm – Edelman, two weeks after Edelman’s strategy document for TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline  was leaked to the public. That document revealed TransCanada’s plan to play dirty to quash opposition to its risky pipeline plan.

The backlash against the strategy has been huge in recent weeks, with widespreadmedia coverage on both sides of the border.

TransCanada’s attempt at damage control comes too late. The company is trying to close the gate long after the horse has left the barn.

The leaked strategy document recommended that TransCanada use seemingly unaffiliated third parties to attack citizens groups and groups like Environmental Defence who are opposed to the risky pipeline. The company has admitted to trying to dig up dirt on citizens groups to try to unearth information it could give to third parties to attack them with. The strategy also suggested creating fake ‘astroturf’ grassroots groups to give the project the appearance of public support – a tactic that Edelman used in the U.S. on behalf of cigarette companies to try to discredit the well established links between tobacco and cancer.

As you can imagine, the leaked document hasn’t helped TransCanada earn public trust. In fact, the public backlash has been overwhelming. You can’t blame Canadians for asking questions like:

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

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