| Energy East Risks Too Great | 15 August 15 |
"What we have found is there is an imbalance between the economic and environmental risks of the project and the expected benefits for Ontarians," said OEB vice-president Peter Fraser as he released a report on Energy East. TransCanada's Energy East pipeline project would convert an up to 40-year-old natural gas pipeline to carry crude oil from Alberta to Ontario, connecting it with new pipeline through Quebec and on to Saint John, New Brunswick. It would be the largest oil pipeline in North America, transporting 1.1 million barrels of oil every day – primarily for export. After 15 months of consultations with people in communities along the Ontario route of the pipeline, the Ontario energy board found residents are worried about leaks. "The top concern expressed was the risk of an oil spill as the pipeline runs near or across many waterways," Fraser said. "Our advice is that for the existing pipeline, when it is too close to environmentally sensitive areas, it should be rerouted unless it can be justified by TransCanada as necessary." Greenpeace welcomed the OEB's conclusion that the risks of the pipeline project outweigh the benefits. "Given the new realities of low oil prices and a global push for action on climate change, this project is high risk and low reward for the entire country and not just Ontario," said Greenpeace spokesman Keith Stewart.
View August 13, 2015 The Hamilton Spectator article |
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