Energy

Exxon is not the only bad apple, the whole fossil fuel industry is rotten to the core. Exxon is a corporate devil but it is not alone in its demonic subterfuge. Exxon is being investigated for criminal wrongdoings and some other fossil fuel companies are also coming under legal scrutiny.    In November, a criminal investigation was launched into Exxon and a month later, many other fossil fuel industry CEOs were formally asked to clarify what they knew about the relationship between fossil fuels and climate. Almost four dozen members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the CEOs of...

A new report reaffirms the failure of oil industry oversight under the former Conservative government led by Stephen Harper. According to a report by the federal commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, the National Energy Board (NEB) has failed to assess whether pipeline companies are in compliance with environmental, safety and other conditions. The new audit was tabled in the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday, January 26, 2015. "Overall, we found that the National Energy Board’s tracking of company compliance with pipeline approval conditions was inadequate," the report said. The lack of follow up and failure to systematically review pipeline...

On November 6, 2015, President Obama announced that he is killing the Keystone XL pipeline. In explaining his decision he cited minimal economic benefits due to low oil prices and climate impacts. For seven years environmentalists and those concerned about climate change have been actively opposing the carbon bomb known as the Keystone XL pipeline. Although the President cited low oil prices, the most powerful reason why the KXL had to be killed was its carbon load. Tar sands oil is expensive to exploit and it is also among the dirtiest and most energy-intensive hydrocarbons on earth. A diverse coalition...

DNV GL Energy Academy: Wind Turbine Technology will take place on October 28 - 29, 2015 in Bristol, England. This two day course explains the basics of wind energy conversion and the evolution of today's giant wind turbines. It also reviews many key decisions about the design concepts of the turbine technology that is powering the fastest growing sector of the world’s electricity industries. This includes explanations behind the number of blades and locating turbines  upwind or downwind. Rotor design, direct drive and the increasing diversity of drive train options are examined. Permanent magnet generators and general electrical design issues...

The Energy East Pipeline was the most prominent environmental issue in the first French language leaders debate. Stephen Harper was criticized by the other leaders for his government's failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. On September 24, 2015, the leaders vying for Prime Minister of Canada held a French language leaders debate in Montreal, Quebec. This debate is important because there are 78 seats in Quebec out of 338 up for grabs in the House of Commons. In addition to the seven million French speakers in Quebec there are one million French speakers outside of the...

A pipeline belonging to Gazprom Neft burst and caught fire in the Moscow River on Wednesday August 12. Local news agencies reported that one child and two adults suffered burns from the incident. This amateur footage from the Guardian shows a large oil fire on the surface of the Moscow river.

Despite some intense disagreements Canadian premiers and territorial leaders managed to reach a unanimous deal. The agreement strives to strike a balance between a national energy strategy that includes fossil fuels and climate change mitigation efforts. At the recent meeting of Canadian provincial and territorial leaders, the premiers of both Quebec and Ontario managed to put environmental concerns at the top of the agenda. The 2015 summer meeting of Canada's premiers in St. John's Newfoundland took place on July 15 - 17. The same old polemics emerged pitting the economy against the environment. However, Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne warned those...

Despite the less than stellar leadership of Canada's federal government we are seeing a new reinvigorated climate movement taking shape in the country. Major actions are planned for the beginning of the month of July which is part of the grassroots climate movement that is emerging in Canada. Starting with indigenous communities in rural Alberta and culminating in nation wide protest, Canadians are getting serious about their desire for climate action. On July 4th and 5th Canadians will mobilize to show their commitment to combating climate change. It starts with a national day of action on July 4 and is...

An oil spill in the ocean near Santa Barbara, California is reminiscent of a similar incident that occurred forty five years ago. The 1969 spill that killed wildlife and fouled vast stretches of shoreline spawned the modern US environmental movement. While the 1969 spill was caused by an oil platform blowout, the 2015 spill was caused by the rupture of a 24 inch oil pipe. In the latest spill more than 21,000 gallons of crude are known to have seeped into the ocean before it was finally shut off on May 19th. The resultant oil slick now extends for 5...