Karen Ogen: LNG within the power future

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The most recent “science” on LNG from the David Suzuki Basis gives a traditional instance of cherry-picking.

A easy definition of cherry-picking: “The act of pointing to particular person instances or information that appear to substantiate a specific place whereas ignoring a good portion of associated and related instances or information that will contradict that place.”

That the Suzuki Basis is looking for an finish to LNG growth isn’t any shock. They persistently run in opposition to the tide of public opinion on this difficulty, and in addition opposite to the assist LNG has obtained from three successive B.C. governments.

In its most up-to-date instance of blatant cherry-picking, the Basis quotes a 2018 U.S. examine that cites methane emissions in Pennsylvania and extrapolates them to British Columbia. The issue is – there’s a giant distinction.

As B.C.’s Power Regulator places it: “B.C.’s geology supplies a pure benefit over different areas of the world the place hydraulic fracturing takes place nearer to the floor, as pure fuel in B.C. is discovered deep underground, in some instances over 4 kilometres, and beneath impermeable layers of rock.”

Evaluating B.C.’s deep fuel fields to the shallow fuel fields within the U.S. is like evaluating the Rocky Mountains to the Prairies, or the Nice Lakes to Misplaced Lagoon.

Geology, like geography, might be very totally different. So, the Suzuki Basis is not only cherry-picking; it’s evaluating apples and oranges.

As BC environmental scientist Blair King mentioned of the Suzuki marketing campaign: “If I in contrast handgun stats between Vancouver and Pittsburgh I’d be advised the comparability was ridiculous, however evaluating Pennsylvanian and BC fuel appears completely okay to them.”

Moreover, B.C. has stricter authorities laws, has primarily eradicated flaring of pure fuel, and has moved to affect on-site gear. All of these items considerably cut back fugitive emissions of methane

The Suzuki Basis conveniently ignores a examine revealed at Nature.com that refers back to the Montney basin within the Peace River area, which can provide many of the pure fuel destined for LNG export: “Montney B.C. and Peace River areas confirmed extraordinarily low emission intensities, making pure fuel produced right here a gorgeous funding for firms with Surroundings, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements”.

It’s a disgrace that the David Suzuki Basis continues with its myopic view of LNG.

If B.C. was to place a halt to LNG manufacturing, our pure fuel would merely proceed to circulation to the USA, the place a lot of it will be liquefied and exported as LNG — to a lot of BC’s potential abroad LNG prospects — at a decrease environmental commonplace, and at a revenue to the U.S.

The fuel from Canada and the U.S. might additionally go to deliberate Mexican LNG vegetation, whose LNG then would compete with B.C.’s LNG.

Not solely would B.C. and First Nations round B.C. lose out on financial alternative, such exports would enhance emissions as a result of our environmental requirements are a lot greater than these in the USA or Mexico.

The Suzuki Basis, then, is absolutely incomes its spurs with the Texas Chamber of Commerce, who simply love LNG growth on the Gulf Coast.

Shifting ahead in B.C. with the world’s cleanest LNG is strongly supported by our democratic allies in Japan and Korea. They need to pure fuel to assist with their power transition from coal, whereas additionally shifting away from Russian pure fuel.

LNG, then, is a key precedence for our democratic allies to make sure their power safety.

These are severe matters. Let’s dispense with the cherry-picking. Let’s proceed on our path of manufacturing the world’s cleanest LNG, with unprecedented First Nations participation — and possession in such LNG initiatives as Cedar LNG (Haisla Nation) and Ksi Lisims LNG (Nisga’a Nation).

And let’s proceed producing the revenues and jobs that can strengthen communities and companies proper right here in B.C.

We are able to do our half to assist the worldwide power transition, and power safety, as an alternative of pretending that stopping LNG will do something to assist.

The above appeared as a visitor column in Enterprise in Vancouver and on TheOrcaBC.

Photo: Karen Ogen

(Posted right here 08 June 2023)

 

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