EnviroBlog by Outlook Resources | OLR.V

North American climate change leaders said today's announcement is another example of the strong leadership being shown by provinces and states. 

"I applaud Manitoba for taking an important step forward in our fight against global warming.  Neither California nor Manitoba can solve this problem alone, but together with our other partners from around the world, we can have a tremendous effect in building a greener world."

- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

"I congratulate Manitoba for taking a leadership role on climate change.  Not only will Manitoba's efforts help reduce harmful emissions but it sets a positive example for other provinces and territories to follow." - David Suzuki

"I want to congratulate Manitoba on its continued leadership.  The impacts of climate change are being felt well beyond our individual borders and it is important that like-minded provinces and states work together.  By building regional coalitions and showing leadership, we can protect the environment and build greener economies." - Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

"The plan not only takes a comprehensive approach to addressing emissions from our transport sector but also recognizes the significant potential to expand green business opportunities for our province, leveraging existing green emission technologies and expansion of transit use." - John Marinucci, president and CEO, New Flyer Industries

"Introducing legislation on climate targets sends a strong signal on Manitoba's commitment to addressing climate change.  I think the government should be commended for taking this action.  This plan makes important strides in addressing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and transportation, which represent almost two thirds of Manitoba's emissions."

- International Institute for Sustainable Development CEO and president David Runnalls

Note:   Arizona, California and Manitoba are members of the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), which has established firm greenhouse gas reduction targets and is committed to higher vehicle emission standards, sharing best practices, participating in the Climate Registry and designing a multi-sector, market-based mechanism to reduce emissions.

Highlights from an article by Shawn McCarthy and Wendy Stueck, The Globe and Mail

"For months now, managers of a Chevron refinery in Burnaby, B.C., have known that the plant would fall under any carbon dioxide cap-and-trade regime put in place by federal or provincial authorities.

B.C.'s Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act, which requires legislative approval before taking effect, will set hard caps for large emitters and allow those covered by the act to buy and sell allowances or buy offset units. (An offset is a greenhouse-gas reducing activity, like generating energy from landfill methane.)..."

Read the Full Article Here. 

Mar 13th 2008 | OTTAWA
From The Economist print edition

A new American law could limit oil-sands production in Alberta

CANADIANS like to think that although they are the junior partner in their trade relations with the United States, the 174 billion barrels of proven reserves in the oil sands of Alberta provide a powerful ace up their sleeve in any dealings with their energy-hungry neighbour. That belief has now been shaken by an American law that appears to prohibit American government agencies from buying crude produced in the oil sands of the western province.

The Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 did not set out to discriminate against Canada, America's biggest supplier of oil. But that is the effect of banning federal agencies from buying alternative or synthetic fuel, including that from non-conventional sources, if their production and use result in more greenhouse gases than conventional oil. Transforming Alberta's tarry muck into a barrel of oil is an energy-intensive process that produces about three times the emissions of a barrel of conventional light sweet crude.

Having woken belatedly to the danger, the Canadian government is now scrambling to secure an exception. Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador in Washington, has written to America's secretary of defence, Robert Gates (whose department is a big purchaser of Canadian oil), stressing American dependence on Canadian oil, electricity, natural gas and uranium imports, and noting that some of the biggest players in the Alberta oil patch are American companies. Mr Wilson added plaintively that both George Bush and his energy secretary, Samuel Bodman, have publicly welcomed expanded oil-sands production, given the increased contribution to American energy security.

John Baird, the Canadian environment minister, referred this week to the American move when he unveiled new proposals to reduce industrial emissions in Canada, including the oil sands, by 20% by 2020. Big states like California were making similar pronouncements, he told reporters. The oil sands were an important national resource, but had to be expanded in an environmentally friendly way.

The fear in Canada is that the American purchasing restrictions, which at present apply only to federal agencies, is the start of a wholesale shift to greener as well as more protectionist policies under a Congress and potentially a White House controlled by the Democrats. With energy exports, mainly from Alberta, driving the Canadian economy, this is not a happy thought for Canadians.

Yet environmentalists point out that Canada is now paying for its own foot-dragging at the federal level on green initiatives. Having signed the Kyoto agreement under a previous Liberal government, Canada did little to stop its emissions rising. They are now almost 35% above the Kyoto target. And although Mr Baird likes to describe his plan as tough, it will not bring Canada into line with Kyoto. The rules for the oil sands, now the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases, have yet to be finalised and will not come into force until 2010. Furthermore, they rely on carbon capture, a promising but unproven technology.

The vagueness of the proposed federal rules did not stop the premier of Alberta, Ed Stelmach, from giving a defiant warning that he will stand up for the interests of Albertans (read oil industry) and will be examining the constitution to ensure that the federal government's proposed plan does not intrude on provincial jurisdiction. His province has one of the weakest environmental regimes in Canada.

Although the Canadian embassy says that there has been no official response to Mr Wilson's letter, there are reports of talks going on in Washington aimed at addressing Canada's concerns. But even if a deal is reached with the outgoing Bush administration, any exception for Canada may be short-lived if green-tinged Democrats take the White House in November.

Link To Original Article

Increasing energy costs are forcing communities to investigate alternative energy sources. One of those sources is biomass, which uses things such as plant based material to generate energy.  Biosystems engineer Denis St. George says there is a huge potential for biomass energy in Manitoba.  He says 437,000 acres of crop residue was burned in this province last fall, which is enough to heat about 100,000 homes.  He says that's a large source of energy that isn't be used very well.  While Manitoba has a fairly cheap supply of hydro energy, the province still imports about 75% of its energy needs.  He says biomass would be a good fit for our province as a source of heat energy.

Link to Original article

Biomass is an attractive energy source for a number of reasons. First, Biomass is a renewable energy source. Biomass is also more evenly distributed over the earth's surface than fossil fuel energy sources, and may be harnessed using more cost effective technologies. Biomass provides us the opportunity to be more energy self-sufficient. It helps to reduce climate change (global warming). It also helps farmers & ranchers to augment their incomes and provides rural job opportunities.

Biomass is a renewable fuel that can be sustainably produced in an environmentally conscientious manner. Using Biomass in place of conventional, non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, propane and coal makes economic and environmental sense for several reasons:

·         Biomass fuel is a locally produced product; In contrast to coal or petroleum-based fossil fuels, Biomass is grown and harvested locally. Energy dollars spent on Biomass fuel stays in the regional economy, creating jobs and supporting forestry and agriculture.

·         Biomass fuel prices are generally lower and more stable; Compared to fossil fuels, Biomass fuels are historically lower-priced. Over the past 20 years Biomass fuel prices have increased by only about 1 percent per year.

·         Biomass energy is good for the environment; Using Biomass fuels in place of fossil fuels reduces the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases which cause climate change and can also reduce the levels of emissions that produce acid rain.

·         Biomass fuel is evolving rapidly; Historically, the use of Biomass for energy was limited to the burning of wood because wood is dense enough to produce heat for a reasonable length of time. Wood also required minimal processing and was in abundant supply. The Biomass processing technology developed at Prairie Bio Energy in recent years has transformed agricultural residues into an efficient, cost effective fuel through the process of densification.

The use of biomass as a source of energy has become a practical and reliable way to provide electricity, heat and hot water over the last decade in many European countries and in some Canadian provinces. Biomass sources include both, food and non-food crop residues, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, organic components of municipal and industrial wastes and animal waste such as cow manure and chicken litter. Fundamentally, biomass is stored solar energy that can be converted to electricity or fuel. Prairie Bio-Energy has developed and applied for patents for its unique bio-mass fuel product. Essentially a densified cube made up of a blend of agricultural crop residues and non-hazardous industrial processing wastes such as box-board, scrap paper and recycled wood called Prairie Bio-Cubes® (Patents & Trademark pending).

Prairie Bio-Cubes® are considered CO2 neutral since their combustion recycles present day carbon dioxide to the atmosphere that is in turn sequestered during the growth of the Biomass used to produce them.

Fossil fuels by comparison release CO2 that was removed from the atmosphere and trapped in the earth millions of years ago.

An interesting article from the February 28th Edition of the Economist. It talks about how many former "Silicon Valley Techies" are now finding lucrative and exciting oportunities in the clean technology industry.

Here's an excerpt

"WHEN Shai Agassi, long the heir apparent at SAP, was told in March 2007 that he would not become chief executive for at least another two years, he quit. And when the German software giant then tried to change his mind by offering to make him boss right away, he realised he was "much more excited" about the new chance that his unexpected freedom would grant him. In January Mr Agassi's new start-up, Better Place, announced its first deal, in partnership with Renault, a carmaker, and the government of Israel: to "get an entire country off its addiction to gasoline" by switching to electric cars."

Read the Full Article

Article by Jim Rondeau, Manitoba's Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mines, regarding biofuels in the Winnipeg Free Press , explaining the government's new ethanol mandate. It is a plan which will "reduce economic leakage, cut greenhouse gas emissions and give the rural economy a much-needed boost."

What is Biomass?
Biomass sources include food crop by-product residues, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, organic components of municipal and industrial wastes and animal waste such as cow manure and chicken litter. Fundamentally, biomass is stored solar energy that can be converted to electricity or fuel.