Newsletter: Cedar LNG’s environmental conditions. And more . . . .

 (Our newsletter: 27 April 2023)

 Cedar LNG’s environmental conditions

In our webinar on the Cedar LNG project last week, elected Chief Councillor Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation in BC (photo above) noted some essential environmental requirements set out by her Nation:

Some excerpts:

• “We were able to negotiate (our natural gas supply) off the Coastal GasLink project; so I think that’s one important aspect, a uniqueness about Cedar. There would be no other requirement for any other pipeline infrastructure in B.C., other than (an 8-km link) of pipeline coming off the Coastal GasLink pipeline, coming into Cedar LNG.
• “At the beginning, we chose and laid out some criteria of what we would have expectations for, in a partner and of the project . . . of respecting our environment, and essentially holding Cedar up to a higher level of expectation than any other proponent operating in our territory.
• “We’ve had a lot of experience in regards to some of the technology that could potentially be utilized. . . . to cool the LNG, so we chose air-cooling versus water cooling, through our experience of reviewing other projects, and also we chose the facility to be powered by (electric) e-drives as opposed to by gas-driven, and set those out in terms that our partner would be chosen based on those criteria.”

Michael Eddy, director of external affairs for Cedar LNG:

• “Cedar is the first LNG facility in the world that will be majority-Indigenous-owned, and it’s the largest Indigenous-led infrastructure project in Canada. . . .
• It’s a floating LNG facility, the first of its kind in North America. . . . The environmental footprint of this project will be very light relative to other LNG projects. All of the processing equipment is on a facility that’s anchored to the marine terminal, so that the actual terrestrial impact and footprint is very small. . . .
• “The gas is coming through by the Coastal GasLink pipeline that is being built primarily for LNG Canada and so we’re minimizing the impact to the environment there. . . . Amongst current operators the GHG footprint of our project is lower than anywhere else in the world.”

Ryan Owen, manager of projects for Pembina Pipeline Corporation, the Haisla Nation’s partner in Cedar LNG:

• “Its key components, they’re very environmentally friendly, and we’re trying to reduce our negative environmental impact on marine habitat, on anything terrestrial, another reason why we went with a floating LNG approach. . . .
• “We’re trying to minimize our clearing. We’re looking at things like pipeline routing, optimization of transmission line, mooring design, marine terminal. . . . We’re just trying to make sure we’ve got the best of the best moving forward by the end of the year.”

Watch the full webinar at http://ow.ly/SBCb50NPXMb (The password: +7kD7&L4 )

The webinar  also showed this video on Cedar: http://ow.ly/oRMw50NPW8m

LNG among BC Hydro’s challenges

The power-grid capacity in BC is on a collision course with electric-vehicle targets and new, expedited net-zero demands for LNG facilities, writes Margareta Dovgal of Resource Works.

“BC’s new Energy Action Framework, for example, will require new LNG export facilities to prove they will be net zero by 2030 – a goal perhaps impossible without new hydro capacity and transmission lines, especially on the northern coast. . . .

“With LNG Canada considering Phase Two, Woodfibre LNG promising to be the first net-zero-emissions LNG export facility in the world (through electrification and carbon offsets), FortisBC planning expansion of its Tilbury plant and Port Edward LNG saying its proposed BC plant will be electrified, BC Hydro may soon find itself unable to keep up with electrification demand.”

• Read the full story: http://ow.ly/TlS550NPXUo

Indigenous clean-energy news

• Citing threat to birds, Alberta rejects giant Foothills solar farm in which Cold Lake First Nations is a partner: http://ow.ly/goW250NPSS8
• Indigenous-led group aims to build solar-powered facility in BC that will function as a training centre for First Nations: http://ow.ly/pSbo50NPTyG
• BC doubles funding to help remote First Nations communities get off diesel power, or at least reduce its use: http://ow.ly/wouL50NRtkv
• ‘First Nations must have an active leadership role and an equity stake in clean energy projects.’ — Henvey Inlet First Nation (Ontario): http://ow.ly/hOLV50NI9Z3
• From Indigenous Clean Energy: The federal budget provides significant opportunities for Indigenous communities and clean-energy projects: https://t.co/NQff68HhxV
• Kanaka Bar Indian Band in BC is growing its solar and battery storage capacity: http://ow.ly/bKka50NPUr8
• Manitoba funds training for First Nations members in ground-source heat-pump installation and maintenance: http://ow.ly/3lKH50NPUsy
• The 20/20 Catalysts Program from Indigenous Clean Energy offers free practical and applied learning about renewable energy and initiatives. It begins in May. Applications open soon: http://ow.ly/pvCS50NMjoe
• Recommendations for an Indigenous-led clean-energy future in Canada, from Environment Journal: http://ow.ly/fWFj50NNuI7
• ‘The rise of Indigenous environmentalism is a profoundly important and largely quiet revolution.’ http://ow.ly/XoGR50NPRMZ
• Weighing nuclear power options for First Nations: http://ow.ly/o0uo50NMnnE

ALSO IN THE NEWS

• Surrey Board of Trade calls on governments to bring LNG projects online in a timely manner, and to reduce permitting wait-times and approvals by 20-30%: http://ow.ly/i8hY50NRRFC
• Canadian LNG has its choice of 3 main paths in global climate/energy transition. The most effective is building a West Coast natural gas-hub, says this report: http://ow.ly/CaMB50NS3JH
• An LNG project in Alaska could match BC’s competitive ‘natural advantages’ in LNG exports: http://ow.ly/GQhi50NNXIe
• At LNG Canada, new infrastructure such as flaring stacks will become increasingly visible. Learn more (with video): http://ow.ly/U94050NOntM
• How Woodfibre LNG aims to reach net-zero through technology, engineering, and carbon-credit agreements: http://ow.ly/5Q6u50NPckl
• FortisBC wins BC approval to invest more than $155 million in conservation and energy-efficiency programs: http://ow.ly/fpBW50NK62U

DATES

• Nation2Nation’s ‘She Leads’ women’s gathering comes up May 25-26 at Smithers BC. The Alliance is a sponsor. Info/register: http://ow.ly/AFTx50NCaVX

OTHER DATES

May

• Canada Gas and LNG Exhibition and Conference, May 9-11, Vancouver: http://ow.ly/YxcZ50LjFM1
• The Forward Summit 2023, May 17-18, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino near Calgary. Registration: http://ow.ly/Q8ZV50K7FYb (Note that there’s an Indigenous discount.)

June

• The Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase 2023: June 1-2, Vancouver: http://ow.ly/IZC850LH58j
• National Coalition of Chiefs Energy and Natural Resource Summit, June 11-12, Priddis AB (near Calgary): http://ow.ly/s7EH50NEGEC
• The Global Energy Show, June 13-15, Calgary: http://ow.ly/UvTL50LjFlM

July

• The LNG 2023 Conference, July 10-13, Vancouver Convention Centre. Info/register: http://ow.ly/VVUl50MjbwU
• The sixth annual national Indigenous Clean Energy Forum, July 28, Vancouver. Info/register: http://ow.ly/CvbA50NteNK

September

• Carbon Capture Canada, Sept. 12-14, Edmonton: http://ow.ly/3iBP50LRo0R

October

• Nation2Nation’s 7th annual forum in Terrace BC, October 17-19: https://nation2nation.ca

2024

• The International Gas Research Conference, May 13-16. Our Karen Ogen is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/

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(Posted here 30 April 2023)