Line 5 Pipeline Battle Intensifies as May 12 Closure Date Looms – The Energy Mix: Canada has been threatening to invoke a treaty that was signed in 1977 but has never before been used, barring actions that “would have the effect of impeding, diverting, redirecting or interfering” with “hydrocarbon in transit,” except in case of a natural disaster or operating emergency, the Washington Post reports. For years, Michigan has been saying a natural disaster is precisely what it’s trying to avert by taking action on the Line 5 pipeline.

“The clash over Calgary-based Enbridge’s Line 5, which carries up to 540,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids across Michigan and under the Great Lakes each day, is placing stress on U.S.-Canada ties—and raising questions about how the close allies, which have expressed a desire to work together to fight climate change, can balance energy security with the transition to a clean energy economy,” The Post writes. But Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy said the governor is standing by her position that continuing to operate the pipeline past next Wednesday would be unlawful.

“These oil pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac are a ticking time bomb,” he told the Post. “Their continued presence violates the public trust and poses a grave threat to Michigan’s environment and economy.”

Line 5 Pipeline Battle Intensifies as May 12 Closure Date Looms – The Energy Mix: Canada has been threatening to invoke a treaty that was signed in 1977 but has never before been used, barring actions that “would have the effect of impeding, diverting, redirecting or interfering” with “hydrocarbon in transit,” except in case of a natural disaster or operating emergency, the Washington Post reports. For years, Michigan has been saying a natural disaster is precisely what it’s trying to avert by taking action on the Line 5 pipeline.“The clash over Calgary-based Enbridge’s Line 5, which carries up to 540,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids across Michigan and under the Great Lakes each day, is placing stress on U.S.-Canada ties—and raising questions about how the close allies, which have expressed a desire to work together to fight climate change, can balance energy security with the transition to a clean energy economy,” The Post writes. But Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy said the governor is standing by her position that continuing to operate the pipeline past next Wednesday would be unlawful.“These oil pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac are a ticking time bomb,” he told the Post. “Their continued presence violates the public trust and poses a grave threat to Michigan’s environment and economy.”Read More

Canada’s Climate Plan: Fossil First or Climate First? – Below 2C: Carbon pricing won’t achieve its emission targets, Moore and
Robertson state. And the introduction of complicated rules about
emission intensity rather than emissions reductions along with complex
carbon credits and offsets make it possible for big emitters to “game
the system.”

The Liberals are also relying on “future-tense” technologies,
including their national strategy to become a natural-gas (rather than
green) hydrogen superpower, with its accompanying need to spend public
money to capture, transport, and safely store millions of tonnes of
carbon underground.

Then, incredibly, there’s nuclear. The Liberals have a small modular
reactor (SMR) action plan. They seem to have forgotten safety concerns
and long-term, radioactive-waste storage problems. Again, write Moore
and Robertson, the government will use our tax dollars to fund a
questionable technology.

Canada’s Climate Plan: Fossil First or Climate First? – Below 2C: Carbon pricing won’t achieve its emission targets, Moore and
Robertson state. And the introduction of complicated rules about
emission intensity rather than emissions reductions along with complex
carbon credits and offsets make it possible for big emitters to “game
the system.”The Liberals are also relying on “future-tense” technologies,
including their national strategy to become a natural-gas (rather than
green) hydrogen superpower, with its accompanying need to spend public
money to capture, transport, and safely store millions of tonnes of
carbon underground.Then, incredibly, there’s nuclear. The Liberals have a small modular
reactor (SMR) action plan. They seem to have forgotten safety concerns
and long-term, radioactive-waste storage problems. Again, write Moore
and Robertson, the government will use our tax dollars to fund a
questionable technology.Read More

Why warnings of a deadly 3rd wave in Canada may have gone unheeded | CBC News: “We’ve been saying all along that if we ease measures too soon,
the epidemic will resurge even stronger. But with highly contagious
variants in our midst, the threat of uncontrolled epidemic growth is
significantly elevated,” Canada’s chief public health officer said.

“These variants have been smouldering in the background and now threaten to flare up.”

Why warnings of a deadly 3rd wave in Canada may have gone unheeded | CBC News: “We’ve been saying all along that if we ease measures too soon,
the epidemic will resurge even stronger. But with highly contagious
variants in our midst, the threat of uncontrolled epidemic growth is
significantly elevated,” Canada’s chief public health officer said.“These variants have been smouldering in the background and now threaten to flare up.”Read More