Markham on Energy

Alberta Energy clarifies Tzeporah Berman role on oil sands advisory group

Markham on Energy

Is eventual Tzeporah Berman resignation worst thing for Notley Government? Was that the strategy all along? Why did Tzeporah Berman ever agree to co-chair the Alberta Oil Sands Advisory Group? I ask this question because comments from the provincial energy minister shed new light on the eco-activist’s recent anti-pipeline comments on CBC. You can read the background to […]

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To Tzeporah Berman: Fly straight or resign (or be fired) from Alberta Oil Sands Advisory Group

Markham on Energy

Government appointments carry responsibilities that must be taken seriously, not exploited to further personal political agendas When Alberta’s NDP government appointed vocal eco-activist and pipeline opponent Tzeporah Berman to the Alberta Oil Sands Advisory Group in July, I supported the move. But after an anti-oil sands outburst on CBC radio Thursday, followed by revealing Facebook comments on the weekend,

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Energy Transition is a very good argument for supporting Kinder Morgan pipeline

Markham on Energy

During energy transition from oil to alt fuels, producing and exporting oil to drive economic growth/pay for transition is reasonable compromise My wife and I often stroll the picturesque beaches of Semiahmoo Bay with our little dog, enjoying the cool ocean breezes and the sand in our toes. Sometimes, I look out over the water and

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Two scenarios where the Chevy Bolt could change America’s love affair with cars

Markham on Energy

Traditional diffusion path over 50 to 75 years vs. 10 years if “pooling economy” catches on Just how important is Tuesday’s announcement that the Chevy Bolt will get 238 miles (400 kms) per charge? According to our experts, pretty darn important, for two reasons. One, longer range and lower costs for electric vehicles means EVs are

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Will someone please give Kevin O’Leary a lesson in Pipeline 101?

Markham on Energy

Kevin O’Leary proposal for a national referendum on pipelines impractical, impossible, inefficient and just plain dumb A national referendum on pipelines? If Kevin O’Leary pitched this ridiculous idea to his old reality show, CBC’s the Dragon Den, the investors would be “out” before the end of the sales presentation. O’Leary – still hinting he might run for the

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Oil/gas industry’s Dakota Access pipeline strategy is risky and likely to fail

Markham on Energy

Alliance of Native Americans and environmental groups could spell big trouble for industry, a la Keystone XL fiasco Energy Transfer Partners and the American Petroleum Institute have just made a huge strategic mistake with their handling of the Dakota Access pipeline protests. When the protests were just starting, there was opportunity for the pipeline company

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Time to rethink ‘political opposition’ to Energy East, Kinder Morgan pipeline projects

Markham on Energy

British Columbia demonstrates that pipeline projects can succeed even against vociferous opposition Vancouver pollster Shachi Kurl has a message for skeptics who think Quebec opposition will sink the Energy East pipeline: more British Columbians now support the Trans Mountain Expansion project than oppose it. Kurl is the executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, which released a

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Action needed now to save the Energy East pipeline review process

Markham on Energy

Carr set up a parallel consultation process for Kinder Morgan pipeline review, why not Energy East? A few months ago I interviewed Jim Carr, Canada’s minister responsible for pipeline reviews. He told me Canadians would be consulted at length about new energy infrastructure projects. But I have a question: When? That question is now pressing

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Eco-activists continue ‘Keystoning’ Energy East in wake of NEB resignations, Trudeau must act

Markham on Energy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must set up a government-led process to address “soft” pipeline review concerns and get them out of the NEB review Is the National Energy Board review of the Energy East pipeline process broken, now that three panel members have resigned? Not in the least. And claims it is broken are part

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