Someone contacted me and get ready for a lot of stories about the propose pipeline hearings in Saint John during the next three weeks.
I will blog any story or the questions which are going to be asks to the Board.
Now> Since I believe in a open debate? < better than the Irvings!! > If you support the pipeline via Rockwood Park? I will blog those comments also.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA | Wednesday November 6, 2006
"Aggressive’ opposition planned
Nova Scotia prepares to fight Emera’s proposal to ship liquified natural gas through N.B.
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Nova Scotia is trying to make sure Emera Inc. cannot operate a cheap pipeline to carry liquid gas that could scuttle the future of two energy projects in this province.
Energy Department representatives say they will be "very aggressive" when they appear at National Energy Board hearings that start this afternoon in Saint John.
The hearing will determine the delivery cost of transporting the liquefied natural gas along the proposed 145-kilometre pipeline from the planned Irving-owned Canaport LNG facility, where giant tankers will bring the super-cooled gas from Spanish-owned Repsol by late 2008 and then ship it to the U.S.
Premier Rodney MacDonald wants the energy regulator to examine the impact of Emera’s proposed $350-million pipeline on two proposed LNG terminals in Nova Scotia, which could face higher delivery charges than its competitor in New Brunswick.
"I’m concerned about the potential impact," said Mr. MacDonald. "We plan to be very aggressive at the upcoming hearings."
He said the proposed Emera line will bypass other pipelines and could affect delivery tolls charged on the existing 558-kilometre pipeline, which carries gas from fields near Sable Island between Nova Scotia and the United States, as well as hurting the two Nova Scotia LNG projects. The Emera pipeline will travel through southwest New Brunswick and connect with the U.S. portion of the Sable pipeline at the international border near Baileyville, Maine.
The LNG projects being proposed in Nova Scotia are one by Anadarko Petroleum, which is in limbo after a deal to sell the project to a U.S. equity firm collapsed in September, and a second in Goldboro by Keltic Petrochemicals of Halifax and 4Gas of Rotterdam.
The crux of the issue for Nova Scotia, outlined in questions filed by Nova Scotia’s Energy Department, is that the Irving/Repsol project could pay cheaper toll charges than the Nova Scotia projects would pay.
They argue that if the Emera pipeline had hooked up to the Duke Energy-owned Maritimes and Northeast pipeline, it would have increased the volume of gas in the system and lowered tolls for all users.
Peter Milne, a consultant for Anadarko, has filed evidence with the board outlining the potential effects of a so-called bullet line that bypasses the Sable pipeline, Maritimes and Northeast, on customers now using the line to transport gas from Nova Scotia’s only offshore gas project.
"The higher tolls and costs on the Canadian segment of the M&NP system will give natural gas from the Canaport LNG a significant competitive advantage over Sable Island gas producers," Mr. Milne says in his filing. Expectation that the Canaport LNG facility will get cheaper tolls is already making it hard for Anadarko to find a supply of gas for its proposed facility near Port Hawkesbury, he says.
Mr. Milne says the Irving-owned development was "hampered" in its efforts to secure a supply of gas for the Bear Head site because of a "$1.5 billion transportation advantage" gained by the Emera bypass pipeline. And any discount toll deal for Canaport could be "fatal" for LNG projects in Nova Scotia.
Mr. Milne proposes that the pipeline run north to join with the Canadian portion of the Maritimes and Northeast system.
Emera has negotiated a 25-year deal with Repsol on what it will charge to transport gas through what is called the Brunswick Pipeline. The toll proposed is 14 cents US per gigajoule, and Mr. Milne says the Emera pipeline will offer the Irving project a 25-cent advantage.
While Emera will own the pipeline, it has negotiated agreements with Duke Energy under which an affiliate of the U.S. pipeline company will continue to permit, construct and ultimately operate the pipeline for Emera.
Duke spokesman Stephen Rankin said there is no way to compare tolls between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for the LNG projects because Anadarko hasn’t filed any project requiring space along the pipeline.
"We don’t have a toll to compare it to," Mr. Rankin said. "There’s no way to answer that. It depends on the facilities that (Anadarko) would want."
He said the route chosen for the Brunswick Pipeline is "superior" environmentally and in terms of engineering.
( jmyrden@herald.ca)
7 comments:
this one is from Edmonton
Nov 6, 2006 2:26:00 PM MST
Citizens dubious about chances as pipeline hearing begins in N.B.
(NEB-Pipeline-Hearing)
SAINT JOHN, N.B. (CP) _ The National Energy Board opened a pipeline hearing in New Brunswick on Monday under a cloud of suspicion from concerned citizens who believe the board will not seriously consider their objections.
The energy board is reviewing an application from Brunswick Pipeline, a subsidiary of Nova Scotia-based Emera Inc., to construct a high-speed, high-pressure pipeline to carry natural gas from Saint John, N.B., to the energy-hungry U.S. northeast.
The company is seeking approval to build the 145-kilometre pipeline across southwestern New Brunswick and into Maine, traversing the city of Saint John and one of its most cherished public spaces, Rockwood Park.
Of the 40 individuals intervening at the hearings to oppose the route through the city, several made it clear on Monday they believe it will be an uphill battle to get serious consideration.
“The only time I can find that the energy board decided to oppose a pipeline was in Abbotsford, B.C.,‘‘ Saint John resident Frances Oliver told the three-member board.
“I think our chances here are pretty slim to nil.‘‘
Oliver said she is concerned that the three board members are all new appointees to the job.
“With new panel members, the literature suggests that if you are new there may be some bias,‘‘ Oliver told the panel members.
“I‘m concerned the NEB process was not designed to serve the needs of individual residents. It‘s a process that is designed to serve the needs of large corporations.‘‘
The board members did not respond to Oliver‘s concerns.
Alan Ruffman, a marine geophysicist from Halifax, said it will be difficult for citizens to penetrate the complex legalistic processes that characterize an energy board hearing.
“The NEB has a long tradition of backing the plans of oil companies,‘‘ said Ruffman who is helping the citizens‘ group, Friends of Rockwood Park.
“We‘re fighting an uphill battle.‘‘
Most of the private citizens intervening at the hearings, which are expected to last two weeks, favour a water route for the pipeline rather than the route through the city and the park.
Ruffman said the people opposing the land route are making a sound argument.
“Rather than taking a pipe that has 1,455 pounds of pressure in it through all the little parts of the city, and its subdivisions, an eight-kilometre underwater pipeline could completely avoid the city and remove all of the safety concerns.‘‘
But Steven Rankin, spokesman for Brunswick Pipeline, said a water route is not on the table.
“It would add about $300 million to the project,‘‘ Rankin said.
“It‘s a $350 million project as filed, so it‘s almost a doubling of the cost.‘‘
Opening day on Monday was largely procedural as intervenors and the applicant made preliminary statements and motions.
The conference room was packed as the hearings began, but thinned out as lawyers and intervenors discussed evidence and witnesses to be called over the next two weeks.
The pipeline is to be built by 2008 to carry natural gas from a liquefied natural gas terminal under construction on the outskirts of Saint John.
The LNG terminal is being built by Spanish petroleum giant Repsol with Irving Oil of Saint John, N.B.
INDEX: OIL&GAS ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL
TheChronicleHerald.ca
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA | Monday November 6, 2006
Emera boss taking pass on hearing
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
SAINT JOHN — The boss of Emera will take a pass on regulatory hearings into the energy giant’s proposal to build a $350-million pipeline to carry liquefied natural gas from a planned Irving-owned development outside Saint John.
Instead, Chris Huskilson, the head of the Halifax energy company, is going on an intensive three-week "investor relations" tour hitting Bay Street and Wall Street.
Today, Mr. Huskilson, along with the company’s director of investor relations Judy Steele, will be in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace attending an invitation-only Edison Electric Institute financial conference. Then it’s off to Calgary and Vancouver to meet with investment firms.
For the following two weeks Mr. Huskilson will be in Boston and New York, returning to Canada to meet brokers and analysts in Toronto and Montreal.
"We try to get out and meet with investors twice a year," Ms. Steele said.
She said Emera and its partner, Duke Energy of the U.S., have a team stick-handling the hearings before the National Energy Board. While Emera has 100 per cent ownership of the pipeline, Duke is responsible for construction and operation of the pipeline.
On Friday, Emera released its third-quarter earnings, which were up, and held a conference call with analysts from across the country.
During the call, Mr. Huskilson said Emera has spent $8 million on the project this year, and the bulk of the spending will be in 2008. He also confirmed the order for the steel has been placed, pending regulatory approval of the line.
One analyst said she was "confused" about the relationship between Duke Energy and Emera over the 145-kilometre pipeline.
Mr. Huskilson said the two energy companies have a "tight relationship" and Emera pays a management fee to Duke for it to oversee the project.
( jmyrden@herald.ca)
The right thing should be done but when you have Billionaires who have paved their way for years without others knowing what would it them; it is an uphill.
No good reason to chop up our city or park!
So it will cost them a few hundred million more for the Bay route; they will make billions most days. Time to prtect our city is now not later when they see they made the worst decision.
Disappointed that two newly appointed Ministers of NB, living here in Saint John, have at this time not continued their desire to intervene. Wonder why? They were so passionate about not destrying our city and a park with a 30 inch pipe and so much more. Our Mayor and several councillors turned to the few millions and sold us out. They can still make the Billions in the Bay. Sad day for Saint John if the NEB does not help to protect our property and have some quality of life. Yes we will sleep better for that running through our city and lets play down all the risks. Let's bury our heads a little more. Our Mayor and Councillors could of waited for experts to decide but know they sold us out. Sickening and very discouraging and that was their plan.
Irving Paper has done such a disservice to all citizens to misguide all people and quote 'We all want the 30 inch pipe through city when that is far from any truth. People who live in surrounding areas seem to have more say then the people who are affected.
Best wishes but money talks and that seem to be the curve they are using!
Mayor Norm and the Majority of Saint John City Council, sold the City Out on this one as anybody knows.
Even the current Fire Chief stated the City Fire Dept isn't prepared for anything bad that could possibly happen from this Pipeline, nor is the ER out at the Regional Hospital.
Hell Folk's, the city of Saint John doesn't even have a Public Emergency Notification System in place now, let alone anything concrete as to how their going to notify the city Residents that something Negative may happen when this puppy is built.
Remember the Water Screw Up Happening just before the Last Saint John City Election. Mayor Norm was going to get right on it, and see if he could remedy this situation.
Hell of a great job you did Norm, we still don't have any Emergency Notification System in place do we, or Do We ???
No more live radio stations anymore here in Siant John on a 24/7 Basis. Maybe in Fredericton Charles, but none down here.
What else does Mayor Norm and Council need to know ?
We placed our house on the selling block Charles, the very same day it was announced City Council became Judas.
Charlie, 8:53 AM is 100% correct on their statements about the radio station situation here in Saint John.
8:53 am is also right about the Drinking Water situation back in 2004. Chsj stated when all the crap hit the fan, that they aired the E-COLI Warning In our drinking Water supply.
If they did, how come so many people stated in the Irving Local Newspaper ?
" We Never Heard Anything " and some of the people who complained about not hearing anything Charles, where Business Operation's selling food and so forth, I know, I was working at a local area Restaurant when this happened. "
Am I public enemy number one for asking this ?
If Saint John New Brunswick supposedly is still the Greatest Little City In The East, then I'd sure as Hell wouldn't want to be living in the Worst.
The Rogers News Radio Station isn't any better than Chsj, Cfbc or any of the others.
I think their all concerned about informing the Public as long as it's from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm Only.
Just let's just hope nothing bad ever happens outside of their hours of operation.
And Mayor Norm Did Indeed Say he was going to try and get something in place to notify the Public.
Way to go Mr. Mayor Norm, you never got anything operational for us the people of this City, But you sure as Hell got a lot of things going and Done for the Irvings though, Didn't You ??
Now Council wants the taxpayers to pay for a booklet to tell us how they spend our tax dollars; another waste of our tax dollars. As if they care about how we feel; never included in the real issues.
When we question them we are naysayers? They think we can't see through their bull. They are seriously thinking of running again for next election. Somebody needs to bring them some clarity!
People are so consumed with Christmas buying and all the stuff that gets you in the mood.
The best Christmas gift would be if the Pipeline would go out to the Bay. Miracles have to happen and it is tough with Scrouge and the Billionaires.
Hope is there but they have money to buy their way and that seems to be the way our greedy world is going. Our life will not improve but some have convinced the gullible ones that all will be so much better for all people. SORRY JUST THE Billionaires and their friends!
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