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As if TransCanada Corp.’s 30,000-page application to the National Energy Board for its proposed Energy East pipeline wasn’t good enough, the Quebec government has laid out seven conditions of its own before allowing the $12-billion project.
In a Nov. 18 letter (in French) to TransCanada president and CEO Russ Girling, Quebec Environment Minister David Heurtel said the conditions include passing an environmental assessment that examines its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, echoing President Barack Obama’s warning that he won’t approve Keystone XL if it exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions.
“If the company doesn’t respond to the conditions, the project cannot go ahead,” Mr. Heurtel said.
Quebec approval of Energy East, which would take 1.1 million barrels per day of Alberta crude oil to refineries in Quebec and New Brunswick and to ports in both provinces for export, is also contingent on the project providing a thorough emergency plan with a compensation fund in case of a spill; consultations with communities on the potential social impacts; use of the highest technical standards to assure public safety and protection of the environment; satisfying issues dealing with First Nations; generating economic benefits for all of Quebec, especially in job creation in areas where the pipeline will be located.
Finally, Quebec wants assurances that there will be no impact to Quebec’s natural gas supply. About 700 kilometers of the line’s 4,600-km route would run through Quebec.
There are a couple of cheap shots in Quebec’s demands. But by erecting a GHG hurdle, Quebec is caving in to pipeline opponents. Pipelines generate few emissions. But Quebec has effectively agreed to provide a platform to pass judgment on the emissions of the oil sands, which are regulated in Alberta, where they are located.
The other cheap shot is around natural gas supplies. Energy East involves converting part of the underutilized TransCanada Mainline to oil service. Quebec wants assurance that its supplies of cheap gas from Alberta will continue, even as the province has imposed a moratorium on fracking instead of producing its own ample natural gas resources.
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