If you’re talking jobs or GHGs, alternative scenarios matter

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As seems to be the case with every aspect of the discussion of the Keystone XL pipeline, the claims with respect to job creation or lack thereof are all over the map. I’ve written at length about the right way to assess the GHG emissions implications of Keystone XL and the logic used there should also be applied to employment numbers tied to the project.

The API claims that “U.S. jobs supported by Canadian oil sands development could grow from 21,000 jobs today to 465,000 jobs by 2035” – ironically even a little higher than claims cited in this article by Kate Sheppard – while a couple of reports I found on TransCanada’s website cited numbers as high as 553,000 permanent jobs tied to the pipeline.  Sorry, TransCanada – the number which matters and on which decisions should be made is not how many people will be employed building the pipeline and supplying all of the services associated with building it, or the employment tied to the use of the oil transported. These gross employment figures are meaningless. As with GHG’s, only net impacts relative to the most likely alternative matter.

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Globe and Mail Energy Policy Feature

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Since Premier Ed Stelmach announced his resignation on May 27, 2011, the race for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta — and the race to be the next Premier of Alberta — has been in full swing. Six candidates are vying to lead Alberta’s PCs, who this past week celebrated 40 consecutive … Read more

Alberta PC Leadership Q&A

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With the co-operation of each of the PC Leadership candidates, I will be putting together an Energy and Environment Q&A on the Globe and Mail‘s Economy Lab site. This evening, I have sent the following three questions to each of the candidates, and asked that they respond, in 200 words or less for each question, … Read more

Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake on Ethical Oil

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I just tuned-in to a fascinating Twitter conversation between Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake and Alheli Picazo.  Ms. Picazo’s question was as follows; I was wondering if you had given your permission for your likeness (to be) used for the “ethical oil” PR campaign. Especially since your image appears next to a woman about to … Read more

A clever hoax

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Late this evening, an email arrived in my inbox that looked rather believable. The text of the email stated that: EthicalOil.org has expanded efforts to identify the Canadian oil industry as the world’s most ethical by calling on the federal government to ban companies active in conflict oil regions from operating in Canada. I jumped … Read more

Respect our park land – An open letter to the Edmonton District Soccer Association

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UPDATED July 29th, 8:00 am – see below for details.

Mr. Mike Thome, Executive Director, Edmonton District Soccer Association

Dear Mr. Thome,

On Wednesday evening, July 27, I set out for one of my favorite activities in the City of Edmonton – a run in our River Valley.  My preferred route takes me past the City fields on 84st between the Archdiocese and McNally High School. As I set out on my run, a senior men’s soccer game was just wrapping up on the southern-most field – a field known as Forest Heights #1.  It was a lovely night, and it was wonderful to see people out enjoying the parkland and to see many family members watching the end of the game and enjoying the wonderful view of the City skyline. I doubt there is a better view from any soccer field in the City.

By the time I returned from my run, everyone had packed up and gone their separate ways, but unfortunately had not taken with them some of what they brought to the game.  I stopped to pick up:

  • over 40 individual pieces and balls of tape;
  • three empty water bottles;
  • multiple plastic wrappers from the tops of Gatorade/Powerade bottles;
  • cardboard packaging from Umbro soccer socks;
  • A can of Deep Woods Off (recommended by Bob Izumi, who I am sure would prefer it be disposed of appropriately).

All of this was in the bench areas, each of which is conveniently equipped with a garbage can.

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My latest in The Globe and Mail: Oil sands monitoring plan a good step forward

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Environment Canada has released the second of two phases of a proposed environmental monitoring plan for the oil sands, and one need only look at the second name on the list of authors on the first page to understand its significance: Dr. David Schindler. Dr. Schindler is one of the most high-profile and well-respected personalities … Read more

Keep Alberta Oil in the Ground

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In case you missed it, today’s Globe and Mail features an op-ed by 350.org founder Bill McKibben entitled Keep Alberta Oil in the Ground. In the article, McKibben specifically mentions an Economy Lab post of mine on the Keystone XL pipeline debate.  I have also run some similar numbers on this blog here and here. … Read more

Influences on the way to 10,000 Tweets

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Today, I will hit a milestone that I never would have imagined – I will send out my 10,000th Tweet. When I started using Twitter, I saw it as a way to provide a real-time reading list for my students, but I have since found it to be so much more than that.  I decided to reach the 10,000 tweet level with a 5 tweet series of works that have influenced my thinking about energy and climate policies and politics, and a thank you with #10000.  Here are the items I chose:

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