energy
Newsletter
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Canada’s pipeline subsidies continue to grow due to low tolls
A recent report shows Canadians may lose more than $18.8 billion due to the government's low toll rates for the Trans Mountain pipeline, with the oil industry reaping the benefits.
In short:
- The government bought the Trans Mountain pipeline in 2019 but failed to update toll rates, leaving taxpayers responsible for billions in costs.
- Oil companies pay far below market rates, creating an $18.8 billion subsidy, or about $1,200 per Canadian household.
- Raising tolls now could lead to legal challenges or companies abandoning contracts, complicating efforts to recoup taxpayer money.
Key quote:
“The bottom line is the oil industry should be paying for the full capital cost, not the taxpayer.”
— Tom Gunton, Simon Fraser University professor and author of the International Institute of Sustainable Development report
Why this matters:
With Canada committed to eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, the public bears an enormous financial burden while oil companies profit. This raises questions about the government's priorities in balancing economic and environmental responsibilities.
Read more: Biden's battle against enduring fossil fuel tax breaks
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Peaceful anti-pipeline protesters face criminal charges under new West Virginia law
West Virginia activists protesting the Mountain Valley pipeline are being hit with serious criminal and civil charges under a new law that increases penalties for those opposing fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
In short:
- Climate activists protesting the Mountain Valley pipeline face charges under a West Virginia law that punishes protests against critical infrastructure with harsh penalties.
- More than 50 activists have been arrested, and many face both jail time and lawsuits from pipeline companies seeking damages.
- The fossil fuel industry is backing these laws to suppress protests as the environmental movement grows.
Key quote:
“Legal intimidation is a tactic that’s designed to scare folks and incapacitate the movement.”
— Pipeline resistance organizer
Why this matters:
As governments fail to address the climate crisis, anti-protest laws target activists who challenge fossil fuel projects, limiting free speech and public dissent. This suppression risks hindering necessary action on environmental threats.
Related: This is what Indigenous resistance to fracking looks like in Pennsylvania
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Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Vance deflects on climate change policy in debate
During the vice-presidential debate, Sen. JD Vance suggested the U.S. should focus on re-shoring energy production and manufacturing instead of aggressively pursuing clean energy technologies.
In short:
- Vance claimed that the U.S. should be producing more energy domestically rather than investing in solar panels made in China.
- He argued that increased American manufacturing would result in cleaner energy production than what currently happens overseas.
- Critics point out that Republican opposition a decade ago hindered U.S. leadership in clean energy manufacturing.
Key quote:
“We’re the cleanest economy in the entire world.”
— Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio
Why this matters:
While re-shoring production sounds beneficial, relying on past GOP opposition to clean energy investments has hampered U.S. efforts to lead in this sector. Climate change continues to demand more immediate, systemic action.
Related coverage:
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AI's thirst for energy and water raises environmental concerns
A new study shows that AI systems consume significant amounts of water and energy to process even basic tasks, with resource demands expected to grow.
In short:
- AI systems require billions of calculations, which generate heat that data centers cool using vast amounts of water.
- Data centers' water consumption in the U.S. already accounts for 2-3% of public water use, with projections rising to 8% by 2030.
- Researchers suggest smaller AI models could reduce resource strain without sacrificing performance.
Key quote:
" ... in the US, roughly 80 to 90% of the water consumption for data centers is coming from the potable water sources."
— Shaolei Ren, UC Riverside
Why this matters:
AI's growing role in daily life comes with a hidden environmental cost. As demand for AI services increases, local water supplies and energy systems could face strain, potentially harming both ecosystems and communities.
Learn more:
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Listen: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump present vastly different visions for climate action
In the lead-up to the U.S. election, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offer sharply contrasting climate policies, with Harris advocating for green energy investment while Trump questions its economic benefits.
In short:
- Kamala Harris supports Biden’s aggressive climate policies, including green energy investments, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Donald Trump frames climate initiatives as economically harmful, seeking to roll back regulations and exit international climate agreements.
- Voters in key states like Pennsylvania are divided, balancing job security in fossil fuel industries with the push for cleaner energy.
Key quote:
"We have to rapidly accelerate our commitments to aggressively curb our emissions."
— Kamala Harris, vice president.
Why this matters:
The next U.S. president's climate policies will shape both national industry and international climate efforts. Voter opinions on climate, intertwined with economic and local issues, could sway the election outcome.
Related coverage:
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A former top Interior official violated ethics rules by holding oil company stocks
Tommy Beaudreau, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior, improperly held stock in ExxonMobil and Chevron while participating in a meeting affecting those companies, according to a report by the agency’s internal watchdog.
In short:
- Tommy Beaudreau violated federal ethics rules by failing to monitor his investments in ExxonMobil and Chevron.
- His financial adviser purchased the stocks without his knowledge, but Beaudreau failed to recuse himself from a related meeting.
- Despite owning stocks, he participated in discussions about new safety regulations for oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
Key quote:
“Beaudreau participated in a meeting about a regulation that affected Exxon and Chevron, even though he had a financial interest in the companies.”
— Interior’s Office of Inspector General
Why this matters:
Conflicts of interest, even unintentional ones, can taint public trust. The timing is especially troubling as the U.S. grapples with energy transition and the environmental risks of offshore drilling. If those responsible for regulating oil safety are financially entangled with the companies they oversee, can the public really believe these policies are built on science rather than profit? Read more: Public disservants.
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Credit: Jan Mallander/Pixabay
Trump rejects climate crisis while visiting hurricane-ravaged Georgia
As Hurricane Helene's devastation worsens, Trump denies climate change and seeks campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry, which contributes heavily to global warming.
In short:
- Trump called the climate crisis a “scam” during a Georgia visit after Hurricane Helene killed over 150 people.
- A study found that climate change caused 50% more rainfall during the hurricane in parts of the southeast U.S.
- Trump plans to raise funds from oil executives, while his Project 2025 could dismantle federal flood protections and disaster preparedness.
Key quote:
“It’s obscene that communities... are suffering and dying from the reality of the climate emergency while Donald Trump denies that it even exists.”
— Brett Hartl, political director, Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund
Why this matters:
Trump's proposals, including weakening FEMA and NOAA, would leave communities vulnerable to future extreme weather events.
Read more:
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