EnviroBlog by Outlook Resources | OLR.V

What leaders are saying about Manitoba's recent climate change action.

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:21:36 -0500

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.

Climate Change Action Backed Up by $145-million Investment: Premier

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:16:10 -0500

Manitoba is taking strong action on climate change by becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to propose legislating its Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, Premier Gary Doer announced today.

"Our action today demonstrates we are standing by our 2012 Kyoto commitment with legislative tools, forward planning and significant investments," Doer said. "We are joining with the public, business and others in building a more green and prosperous future."

The new law would require Manitoba to meet its Kyoto commitment by 2012 and set long-term goals for further greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions by 2020 and 2025. In order to meet its Kyoto commitments, Manitoba must reduce its annual emissions to 17 megatonnes (MT) from approximately 20 MT. To get there, the first goal is to reduce GHGs below 2000 levels by 2010.

The proposed legislation is supported by more than $145 million in investments over four years and specific actions that will be released with the community in the coming weeks. These actions include:

· A new coal-reduction strategy including a tax on coal emissions, capital support for coal-reliant industries to convert to cleaner energy and support for developing biomass, a coal alternative.

· Public transportation including enshrining in law a 50/50 funding partnership to ensure the province continues to pay half of transit's net operating costs including rapid transit.

· Action on the largest emitters including closing down Manitoba Hydro's coal-fired electricity plant in Brandon, except to support emergency operations, and capturing methane in large landfills. The province will work with the City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Hydro on a doable business plan for Brady Landfill that takes into account expenditures and revenues and provides funding for the project.

· Greener cars and trucks including expanding the use of low-carbon fuels, developing a made‑in‑Manitoba clean vehicle standard, reducing the number of inefficient automobiles on the road and supporting new trucking technologies.

· Alternative transportation choices for consumers including modernizing highway traffic laws to ensure that leading-edge, low- and no-emissions vehicles can be sold and driven in Manitoba, and continuing the consumer rebate for the purchase of hybrid and electric vehicles.

· Clean energy expansion including energy-efficiency initiatives and the further development of hydro, wind and geothermal.

· Agriculture, forestry and community programs including a new sustainable agriculture program, the planting of five million trees over the next five years and new programs to help municipalities track emissions, conserve energy and water, and reduce waste.

· Coalitions with other Canadian provinces, U.S. states and other like-minded jurisdictions including sharing best practices, funding of new research and innovation opportunities, and meeting broader, regional targets like those set by the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). The proposed legislation is consistent with WCI targets.

Manitoba's has set the following GHG reduction goals in order to meet the 2012 target of 17 MT:

· transportation - up to one MT;

· large emitters - 650,000 tonnes;

· clean energy expansion - 670,000 tonnes;

· agriculture, forestry and community programs - 680,000 tonnes; and

· future climate action investments - 250,000-plus tonnes.

"Because Manitoba is powered by hydro and our GHG emissions are already lower than many other jurisdictions, there isn't a simple, single action that will get us to our targets," Doer said. "We will work with the people of Manitoba, all sectors of industry, and the federal and municipal governments to reduce emissions across the board and continue to build a green economy."

The premier noted that investing in climate-change initiatives upfront pays dividends later on. Saving energy not only helps the environment, it produces a rate of return for families, businesses and governments who realize genuine cost savings. A green economy also provides businesses with new opportunities to bring innovative products to market, he added.

Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart program is one example of Manitobans saving on their electricity bills by freeing up more than 400 megawatts of clean energy and allowing for increased sales to other jurisdictions more dependent on fossil fuels, Doer said. To date, Power Smart participation has grown to 50,000 users from 5,000.

In recent years, Manitoba has set up its first wind farm at St. Leon, implemented an ethanol mandate, improved building standards and introduced tax credits to preserve important habitat. This has helped emissions remain relatively stable from 2000 to 2005, despite strong economic and population growth, Doer said. Manitoba has also earned the highest marks for energy efficiency and was named the top regional government in the world for action on climate change by BusinessWeek Magazine.

Uncertainty surrounds B.C. carbon cap plan

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:41:22 -0500

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.

With British Columbia unveiling a cap-and-trade bill last week, it's clear which government is moving first.

But Chevron, along with other big greenhouse gas emitters in the province, remains in the dark on key aspects of the system and how much it will cost to comply.

"It's a challenge to begin working out what the practical options are for us," Chevron Canada Ltd. spokesman Ray Lord said when the legislation was announced.

Mr. Lord added that current monitoring systems might not be sufficient for the new regime.

Chevron is not alone in its uncertainty.

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.

Please buy our dirty oil

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:55:17 -0500

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

Looking For Different Sources Of Energy

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:48:15 -0500

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

Why Biomass Is An Attractive Alternative Energy Source

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:17:36 -0500

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 Rationale for Prairie Biomass Cubes as an Alternative Energy Source

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:49:03 -0500

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.

This one simple fact means Prairie Bio-Cubes® do not contribute to the overall amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases currently being released into the atmosphere.

For the agricultural sector, Prairie Bio-Cubes® can provide a partial solution to the botanical residue associated with cereal grain and oilseed production. In many instances the harvesting of these residues has resulted in substantial savings to the ag-producer in fertilization and cultivation costs.

Executives are switching in droves from the computer industry to clean-technology firms.

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:06:49 -0500

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

2008 Manitoba government's ethanol mandate

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:10:14 -0500

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."

Biomass Defined

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:35 -0500

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.

History of Biomass:
Prior to the industrial revolution, biomass satisfied nearly all of man's energy demands. Up until the 1860's the United States used biomass, in the form of wood, for nearly 91% of all energy consumption. In 1992 biomass generated $1.8 billion in personal and corporate income and employed 66,000 workers. Although presently the majority of mankind's energy requirements are fulfilled by fossil fuel combustion, 14% of the world still utilizes biomass.

Why Biomass?

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 augment their incomes and provides rural job opportunities.

Using biomass to create energy has positive environmental implications. Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas. Plants collect and store carbon dioxide to aid in the photosynthesis process. As plants or other matter decompose, or natural fires occur, CO2 is released.

Before the use of fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide cycle was stable; the same amount that was released was sequestered, but this balance has since been disrupted. In the past 150 years, the period since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have risen from around 150 ppm to 330 ppm, and are expected to double before 2050!

British Columbia becomes the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a consumer-based carbon tax.

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:51:54 -0500

VICTORIA -- Driving and other fuel-dependent activities are about to get more expensive as British Columbia becomes the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a consumer-based carbon tax.

"We have to find a way that we can work toward improving our environment, but at the same time do it in a way that keeps our economy strong," said B.C. Finance Minister Carole Taylor, as she presented a provincial budget that, aside from the carbon tax, commits $1 billion over four years to fight climate change.

The $37.7-billion budget also promises an additional $2.9 billion over three years for health-care spending. That brings the total health budget to $13.8 billion for the coming year.

Taylor said the new carbon tax will begin July 1, starting at a rate that will have drivers paying about an extra 2.4 cents per litre of gasoline at the pumps.

If you drive a Prius hybrid, the government estimates the new tax will cost you about $20 extra per year. If you have a Dodge Ram pickup truck, that number will be closer to $68.

The tax will apply to virtually all fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, coal, propane and home heating fuel. It will increase each year until 2012, reaching a final price of about 7.2 cents per litre at the pumps.

After that, Taylor said, it will rest with the government of the day to decide if the tax rate should change any further.

"We've promised you green and today we've delivered green," said Taylor.

"The carbon tax will start at a relatively low rate to give businesses and individuals time to adjust. As it rises, it will underline the fact that there is, indeed, a cost attached to generating greenhouse gases."

To help people adjust to the cost of the tax, all B.C. residents will receive a one-time $100 cheque in June.

Corporate and personal income tax rates will drop to help make the tax revenue-neutral.

Still, estimates suggest businesses will pay two-thirds of the carbon tax, and will receive only one-third of the refunds. By contrast, individuals are expected to pay one-third, while receiving two-thirds of the credits.

The move was seen as a huge win by environmentalists, who depicted B.C. as a leader in taking action on climate change.

However, Laura Jones, vice-president at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the tax isn't the best way to become environmentally friendly.

"I think they were pretty quick to pull out the stick when it comes to accomplishing environmental objectives," she said, explaining she would rather have seen a greater focus on education and incentives.

Link to original article