Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/423464
D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 www.resourceworld.com 51 [TCP-NYSE] is moving forward with plans for its $12-billion Energy East pipeline project, which would carry 1.1 million barrels of crude oil daily from Alberta to refineries on Canada's east coast. Currently, most Canadian oil heads south along vari- ous routes for refining and export through US ports. Energy East will take Alberta oil to terminals in Québec and New Brunswick, enabling shipments to Europe, India and other destinations instead of relying on American infrastructure. About two-thirds of the pipeline is essentially in place – the project would involve expanding and extending existing pipe- lines. TransCanada says the project will create 14,000 direct and indirect jobs, and $36 billion worth of economic activity. Alberta Premier, Jim Prentice, called it "a true, nation-building project" in a recent statement and said, "Not only will it connect the oil resources of western Canada with refineries in eastern Canada and to global markets, it will connect Canadians by cre- ating jobs and supporting businesses from coast-to-coast. Energy East will also improve Canada's self-reliance by significantly reducing the amount of oil that we import." But like other super-pipelines such as Kinder Morgan, Enbridge's Northern Gateway and TransCanada's own Keystone XL, the project faces opposition from environmental and aborigi- nal groups. TransCanada has tried to offset this by holding dozens of open houses across the country and hiring Phil Fontaine, for- mer chief of the Assembly of First Nations, to solicit support from aboriginal groups along the route. However, protests against this and other pipeline projects con- tinue to be staged by Greenpeace, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, the Sierra Club, ForestEthics, Defend Our Climate, the Council of Canadians and several First Nations, although some are signing agreements. The Gitxsan Nation has barred natural gas pipeline projects on their territory near Hazelton, BC, yet the Nisga'a Nation signed a benefits deal with TransCanada allowing a natural gas pipeline through their lands. In its entirety, the line would stretch from Hudson's Hope in Northeast BC to the pro- posed Pacific Northwest LNG export terminal near Prince Rupert. The Nisaga'a will get annual payments, along with profit sharing, property taxes and access to the LNG pipeline if they want to establish a plant themselves. CAPP spokesman Markus Ermisch said Canada's industry is guided by "best practices, sound science, monitoring and ongo- ing research and development of innovative technologies". He said Canada has more stringent environmental regulations than many other energy exporters, and these policies and regulations continue to evolve. "Industry's actions to fund the most progres- sive and comprehensive third-party environmental monitoring system in the world demonstrate our commitment to safe opera- tions within regulated environmental limits. Sound scientific analysis, such as that conducted by the Royal Society of Canada,