TMX 2? Trans Mountain 3? West Coast Pipeline to parallel existing Trans Mountain route, foregoing northern ports. In a case where going with the devil you know, the newly proposed West Coast Pipeline is expected to follow most of the Trans Mountain Pipeline right of way – you know, the one that saw TMX go from $7.5 billion to around $34 billion.
Yes, I did stay up until 5 a.m. writing this.
Mark Carney’s video: Forward Guidance: Canada’s Energy Future
If you listen to the end, you’ll hear Carney essentially say Trudeau’s policies don’t work today.
Electrical intertie announcement indicates Saskatchewan will be building large reactors, and powering MB and SK
The implications for Saskatchewan, Estevan and even Weyburn are massive. I do an analysis at the tail end of the piece.
Also:
Jim Warren: Canada’s Liberals—dumber than Democrats on climate policy
The World Turned Upside Down: Coal workers go to Legislature to take issue with NDP’s stance on coal
In the musical Hamilton, there’s part of a song that goes, “The World Turned Upside Down.” And one could be forgiven for thinking that, when it comes to politics, unions, and power generation in Saskatchewan.
In subsequent press scrums, 26 union members from two unions stood behind the SaskPower minister, but none stood behind NDP SaskPower critic.
NDP calls for apples-to-apples comparison, but when that’s done, their coal costs mirror the government’s
Usually when the public galleries of the legislature are filled with union members, it’s almost always because they’re not happy with the government. But on May 11, 26 union members and two mayors were there not to take issue with the government, but with the opposition.
Beck says she misspoke on LNG for power generation, asks about coal refurbishment costs
“Mr. Speaker, I’m going to stand in my place today and do something that is sometimes hard for politicians — particularly, it seems, for the Premier — and I’m going say that when I said LNG, I misspoke. I meant natural gas, Mr. Speaker.” – Carla Beck
Boundary Dam Unit 4 fired up on April 22, and it’s more significant than you might think
Up until now, the coal-fired power refurbishment may have seemed like a lot of talk. On Wednesday, April 22, it became real. And that’s significant for a number of reasons.
Not the least of which is it is in total defiance of federal coal regulations. Saskatchewan is giving Ottawa the bird.
Supreme Court rules for Michigan in its fight to shut down an aging energy pipeline. This pipeline moves a LOT of Saskatchewan oil.
Enbridge gets federal approval for $4B natural gas pipeline expansion in B.C.
What you need to know about the new Enbridge LNG pipeline approval
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says fracking opponents are drowning out other voices
I spent 11 hours working on this story, which I broke into four parts. These are the first two, the next two will come out early next week.
The NDP again want to see coal-fired power go away, “as practical.” The want to convert coal plants to natural gas, even though Saskatchewan has lots of coal but not much in the way of natural gas anymore. We drilled ten gas wells over the last decade, and Alberta did that many by noon today.
There is of course the obligatory massive buildout of wind and solar, and storage. And just coincidentally, three hours after the press conference, wind output in Alberta fell to next to nothing, again.
Digging deep on the NDP’s “Grid & Growth” plan for Saskatchewan’ electrical grid, Part 1
NDP want to increase net-metering rate
Also:
Jim Warren: A History of Oil Production and Price Crises 1973-1991
Was it Lewis with his anti-everything policies, or Beck, with her more pragmatic you-re-a-nut-job-stay-away response?
Beck’s frosty letter to new federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis over energy and resource policies
“The positions that you have taken when it comes to natural resource development are ideological and unrealistic. They would hurt Saskatchewan workers, communities, and industries.” – Carla Beck
On coal refurbishments: NDP focus on cost, Sask Party focus on reliability
The Iran War is causing an energy crisis: Doomberg on Decouple and Soar Financially
Brian Zinchuk: Did the Multi-Lateral Well Program shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to provincial revenues?
Also, Decouple Media: The Reactor Canada Forgot How to Sell
Three in-depth pieces on coal-fired power today:
NDP say coal refurbishment will double electricity rates by 2050, prefer natural gas and renewables instead
NDP analysis of coal refurbishment and its impact on rates, in depth
SaskPower Minister responds to NDP study on refurbishing coal and its impact on rates
In cased you missed this major related story on Monday:
BREAKING: Data centre hinges on dispatchable baseload power, including coal refurbishment
I would like to point out that the Leader Post, CTV and CBC failed to mention, or perhaps even realize, that it will be coal powering that new data centre in Regina. Where did they think that power is going to come from? I know! Solar, at night!
BREAKING: Data centre hinges on dispatchable baseload power, including coal refurbishment. Without coal power, it’s unlikely this would be happening.
Also, I will be posting for tomorrow morning two in-depth stories on the NDP’s study into the impact of coal refurbishment on SaskPower rates.
Weekend Watch: The Iran War Expert: I Simulated The Iran War for 20 Years. Here’s What Happens Next.
While watching this, consider if the Iran War does become a forever war, what will it’s impact be on oil production, delivery through the Strait of Hormuz or lack thereof, the world economy, Canadian and Saskatchewan oil production could be profound and last years? Could this lead to a global recession, but good times for our oilpatch? Remember the $147 WTI barrel of July, 2008, led to the global financial crisis that September. Some of us are still bearing the scars of that.
I know I am.
Should Saskatchewan buy the CANDU reactor when it comes to building large-scale nuclear in this province? Carl Marcotte Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Business Development at CANDU Energy, part of AtkinsRealis, makes the pitch. Building large reactors will only be the largest, most expensive decision made by this province for generations.
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 29: Carl Marcotte, CANDU Energy
I’m hoping to get Westinghouse on in a future episode, as the main competitor.
Related: Cameco CEO on whirlwind Washington trip for talks on reactor deal
Also – Jim Warren: Critical questions about the Alberta-Ottawa pipeline MOU remain unanswered
Enbridge unfazed by prospect of more Venezuelan oil headed to Gulf Coast
TC Energy sets growth sights on U.S. data centre boom
Weekend Watch: Is Canada Wasting Its Energy Advantage? | Doomberg on Oil, LNG, and the Pipeline Future
There’s some pretty good discussion about Saskatchewan at the 30 minute mark.
Also, from Canadian Press: Carney says Qatar will make ‘significant’ investments in Canada’s major projects.
At least Carney isn’t dressing up in local dress like Trudeau did in India. Take that for what you will.
Here’s what Carney, Moe, Beck and Ford posted about meeting with Chinese President Xi and the resulting trade deal
Backgrounder on the deal.
Also, Kaase Gbakon: Venezuela by the Numbers: What 60 Years of Energy Data Reveal About Its Future
BREAKING: Coal injunction tossed; court says governments get to make environmental policy. In other words, the coal injunction is dead it its tracks. @SaskPower can rejuvenate its coal fleet. The decision is a rebuke of the trend of judge-made law and activist courts, clearly noting the supremacy of the legislative branch in making policy.
This is a huge decision on many points – not just on coal, but on putting activist judges in their place. It will be cited for a long time to come.
The pendulum just may be swinging back to sanity.
Also: NDP criticizes impending SaskPower rate hikes, minister responds
… during the press conference after nabbing Venezuela’s Maduro.
This is a HUGE problem for Canada, as every barrel of oil Venezuela adds would most likely displace a barrel Canada produces. How do I know? Because Canadian oil replaced Venezuelan production over the last two decades.
Brian Zinchuk: Trump’s takeover of Venezuela means Canada needs those west coast pipelines ASAP
Don’t believe me? Here’s Adam Pankratz in the National Post.
Adam Pankratz: Venezuelan oil could put Canada out of business
If sabotage of the energy industry doesn’t end now, we face impoverishment
I swear I wrote my own column a day before I saw his. They’re almost word for word in some parts.
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 24: Premier Scott Moe Year End
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joins the Pipeline Online Podcast in his annual year-end interview. The discussion digs into the coal decision, Saskatchewan’s move into nuclear, carbon capture, interties to Alberta’s grid, and the Alberta-Canada MOU. The multilateral well program, oil production goals, Saskatchewan’s new energy and resources minister, lithium and hydrogen are also discussed.