Ottawa should pay for added Energy East pipeline costs: New Brunswick premier — CP

In an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant called on Ottawa to pay for the analysis of upstream and downstream emissions, along with similar analyses of other ways of supplying oil if they still wish to give the Energy East pipeline a reasonable hearing. “Many people believe that the pipeline may ultimately be rejected due to political considerations,” Gallant says in the letter released Monday. “I believe that this project is in jeopardy and that is not in the interests of this country.” - The Chronicle Herald

Ottawa: We’ll cover extra Energy East costs — Katrina Clarke

After Premier Brian Gallant sent a letter to the Prime Minister yesterday asking that Ottawa cover the costs associated with the Energy East Pipeline, he received a quick response. Natural Resources Canada put out a response late last night saying: “Our government assessed emissions for the Line 3 and Trans Mountain projects and was clear on how this assessment informed our decisions. We have offered to the National Energy Board and TransCanada to undertake the upstream and downstream GHG assessments to avoid cost constraints for the proponent.” TransCanada has currently put the Energy East project on a 30-day hold. - The Telegraph Journal  

Rural N.B. “at the mercy” of pipeline debate — Laverne Stewart

Chair of the local service district for the Parish of Waterborough, New Brunswick Greg Fairweather knows that the Energy East pipeline, which would cut through the parish, would bring needed jobs to the community. Fairweather said that he was promised in June 2014, when he was invited to Fredericton to talk about the pipeline, that local contractors would be needed to build the stretch of pipeline through his district, and – better yet – a monitoring station and pumping station in the area would need to keep on full-time staff. TransCanada made the promise even more real with a $10,000 donation to the community to construct three wells for the fire department. Fairweather still has hope despite the pipelines delays. “We need to see where this takes us,” he said. “We are a small community at the mercy of the government and with all of the stakeholders with the pipeline that something will be put in place to make this happen.” - The Telegraph Journal

Farmers are already cutting emissions, they don’t require carbon tax punishment — Todd MacKay & Aaron Wudrick

Canadian farmers are producing more food while reducing emissions, and hitting farmers with a carbon tax won’t reduce emissions faster. “The agricultural sector is producing more without increasing its GHG emissions,” wrote members of Agriculture Canada in an internal memo. It goes on to say the federal government’s proposed carbon tax would be unlikely to incent change because it’s “too low.” Saskatchewan farmer Levi Wood delivers a similar message. He argues that yields have been very high lately, and farmers and machinery are becoming more and more efficient. But that machinery is still fueled by diesel and it needs a lot of it during harvest. A carbon tax on these machines would hit farmers hard. It’s not surprising that farmers are already doing everything they can do to reduce costs and emissions. Nor is it surprising that a carbon tax will make it harder for Mr. Wood and his colleagues to compete on world markets. - The Toronto Sun

Enbridge pipeline project cited for safety, environmental protection issues — CP

The National Energy Board is ordering a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. to take measures to improve worker safety and environmental protection after several infractions were spotted during field inspections of a British Columbia pipeline expansion project. The agency says it issued three orders to Spectra Energy Transmission concerning construction of its High Pine natural gas pipeline expansion project near Chetwynd, B.C. The NEB says the new pipeline poses no immediate environmental or public safety concerns. - CBC

Global power players from Switzerland to South Africa eye Alberta's green market — Reid Southwick

Alberta's first auction to inject more green power into the province's grid has entered the final phase, but electricity players from around the world are already preparing for future bids. The organization that oversees Alberta's power market has invited proponents behind a shortlist of 29 renewable projects to submit formal bids to supply 400 megawatts of power. The Alberta Electric System Operator began with 80 expressions of interest from proponents hailing from Alberta to Switzerland and South Africa. - Calgary Sun  

Summerside delays decision on energy audit — Millicent McKay

The City of Summerside is delaying a vote over whether or not they will undertake a yearlong energy audit conducted by Honeywell Inc. The recommendations from the audit are expected to cost the city $4.3-million. The city hired Honeywell last year and hoped to receive a list of ways they can reduce their carbon footprint and make room for energy-efficient technology. The recommendations are expected to bring the city $418,000 in annual savings. Mayor Bill Martin hopes that this amount will help the city with the upcoming carbon tax. - The Journal Pioneer

United States

World reliance on coal will last for decades, report finds — Graham Lloyd

Renewable energy, gas and nuclear power will be the world’s fastest growing forms of energy up to 2040 but fossil fuels, led by coal, will continue to be the backbone of electricity production for decades to come. In its latest outlook report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said world energy consumption would rise 28% between 2015 and 2040 with most of the increase occurring in the rapidly developing Asian region. Fossil fuels will still account for more than three-quarters of world energy consumption at the end of that period. Despite a projected trend against coal, world production is still projected to rise 3% from 2015 to 2040, almost reaching 9.4 billion short tons. China, India, Australia and the U.S. will remain the largest coal producing nations to 2040 with Australia the world’s biggest exporter. - The Australian

Australia

AGL has daily struggle to keep 'geriatric' Liddell coal plant running — Angela MacDonald-Smith

AGL Energy faces "a huge daily challenge" just to keep its "geriatric" Liddell coal-fired power station running and will need to spend up to $150-million just to "keep our noses above water" until 2022, according to a senior executive. "It's exceptionally challenging," AGL Macquarie general manager Kate Coates said at the 46-year-old Liddell operation in the NSW Hunter Valley. The plant is limping along as she speaks, with one of four turbines down for its three-yearly maintenance, another out of action due to an unexpected "complex" failure, and the other two are running well below capacity to minimize the chance of them also breaking down. - Australian Financial Review