On June 3, billionaire political activist Tom Steyer made numerous misleading and factually untrue statements about Keystone XL Pipeline, which were published in the Washington Post. We respect that Mr. Steyer has concerns about the project, however many of his claims are simply untrue. We offer our clarifications below to provide context and factually accurate information to address several of these claims.

Mr. Steyer’s claim:

“With Friday’s announcement that the Canadian provincial government of British Columbia opposes the transportation of tar sands oil over their lands . . . ”

Our Clarification:

The government of British Columbia has never once opposed “the transportation of tar sands oil over their lands. ” In fact, Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain pipeline has transported refined and unrefined crude products, including diluted bitumen from Alberta to British Columbia since 1953. The government of British Columbia publicly outlined five important conditions that must be met before it will be in a position to offer support for oil pipelines. The Northern Gateway project is a completely different project designed to serve completely different markets. The Keystone Pipeline system has its own unique market – American refineries in the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast. A significant portion of the oil that Keystone XL will transport comes from American oil fields in Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.

Mr. Steyer’s claim:

“ . . . it simply made no sense on the policy merits to allow a pipeline that would enable massive greenhouse emissions. ”

Our Clarification:

Firstly, the crude delivered by Keystone XL will displace crude being shipped to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries on oil tankers coming from Venezuela, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Keystone XL will offset as many as 200 ocean tankers per year, reducing GHG emissions by as much as 19 million metric tons. According to analysis conducted by renowned climate scientist, Paul Knappenberger, the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the oil carried by the Keystone XL Pipeline (operating at full capacity) to produce energy lies somewhere between 0.00001°C and 0.0001°C per year. Pipelines produce the fewest amounts of emissions to move oil to the markets where it is needed.

Secondly, Mr. Steyer conveniently ignores the fact that 70 per cent of emissions are the result of the burning of fossil fuels and other industrial processes. Driving vehicles, operating manufacturing facilities, heating our homes and transporting goods and services to markets around North America – that is where the majority of emissions come from. Very little actually comes from the extraction of oil from the Earth.

Finally, GHG emissions from the oil sands constitute just 0.1 per cent of estimated global GHG emissions. For context, there are two coal-fired power plants in the State of Georgia that produce more emissions than the entire oil sands industry. He may also want to look into the production of heavy oil in his own state of California, since that oil has a larger carbon footprint than oil from the Canadian oil sands.

Mr. Steyer’s Claim

“ . . . it simply made no sense on the policy merits to allow a pipeline that would . . . do almost nothing for our economy. ”

Our Clarification:

Keystone XL supports the creation of more than 20,000 jobs in the U.S. – 13,000 construction jobs (9,000 KXL, 4,000 Gulf Coast Project) – work for pipefitters, welders, electricians, heavy equipment operators and more. It also supports 7,000 pipe-related manufacturing jobs from the pipe being manufactured in Arkansas, pump motors made in Ohio and transformers built in Pennsylvania. Workers in almost every state in the U.S. would benefit.

Let’s not forget the tax windfalls enjoyed by states and counties. In 2012, the Keystone pipeline property tax valuation was more than $535 million in Nebraska alone.

Keystone XL will inject $20 billion into the U.S. economy, increase Americans’ personal income by $6.5 billion and lead to more than $585 million in state and local taxes in states along the pipeline route.

A new study by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss found that TransCanada will spend $570.5 million directly in Nebraska during the operational period of the pipeline (2015-2029), Keystone XL will generate $580.2 million direct construction spending by TransCanada during the construction period of the pipeline (2013-2014) while the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline will add approximately $1.8 billion to the overall economic activity in Nebraska.

That is economic stimulus even a billionaire can appreciate.

Mr. Steyer’s Claim

“[Approving Keystone XL would]  slow our own move to research-based advanced energy independence that will generate hundreds of thousands of American jobs.”

Our Clarification:

Mr. Steyer continues to peddle the false dichotomy between fossil fuels and renewable energy in an attempt to stifle a pragmatic, fact-based debate. Fortunately the majority of Americans, including President Barack Obama , know that a diverse and robust energy mix leads to greater energy security.

TransCanada also supports this position and has already invested billions of dollars in the production of emission-free energy, including nuclear, wind, hydro and solar power, and we will continue to develop less carbon-intense sources of power in response to the needs of the North American market.

Mr. Steyer’s Claim

“The U.S. is now an exporter of oil, and the Keystone oil will be piped across the Midwest down to the Gulf of Mexico where it will then be shipped as a cheap source of energy to our economic competitors in Asia, including China.”

Our Clarification:

This deceptive claim is partly misleading and partly patently false.

Today, the United States still consumes 15 million barrels of oil a day and imports eight to nine million barrels, or close to 60 per cent of its needs. The EIA (Energy Information Administration) forecast in 2012 the U.S. will continue to import 7.5 million bbl/d into 2035 to meet its needs.

It simply doesn’t make sense for companies to purchase cheaper Canadian crude, ship that product overseas while continuing to import higher priced oil from the Middle East and Venezuela for refineries on the Gulf Coast to deal with the eight to nine million bbl/d that must be imported.

Mr. Steyer’s Claim:

“The pipeline will generate profits, but profits overwhelmingly for foreign companies. The project will generate as much as $3.9 billion in additional revenue for foreign oil companies.”

Our Clarification:

Keystone XL’s economic benefits will be felt throughout the United State. As stated previously, the project will inject $20 billion into the U.S. economy, increase Americans’ personal income by $6.5 billion and lead to more than $585 million in state and local taxes. But more than that, energy trade between Canada and the U.S. supports tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S. and will continue to grow for the next two decades. More than 2,400 American companies supply goods and services to Canadian oil sands and pipeline companies, companies such as Caterpillar, Mathey Dearman in Tulsa, Okla., and Hella Inc. in Peachtree, Ga.

The Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) released a report in June 2011 that analyzed the economic impacts of the oil sands between 2010 and 2035 on both Canada and the United States; some key findings are:

• States such as California, Illinois, Texas and New York, which are closely involved with Canadian oil sands trade, refining, services incidental to refining, and storage or transportation of oil sands – receive the most benefit
• States such as Illinois, California, Texas, New York and Wisconsin – with big economies and large manufacturing sectors, receive the most benefit from the oil
• Total GDP impact of oil sands investment and operations over a 25-year period is estimated to be $775 billion for the United States. U.S. employment, as a result of all oil sands projects, is expected to grow from 21,000 jobs in 2010 to 465,000 jobs in 2035.

Mr. Steyer’s Claim:

“In fact, it appears that among the few Americans who would actually financially benefit from the building of the pipeline are the Koch Brothers . . . and in Canadian regulatory filings one of their subsidiaries declared that it had a “direct and substantial interest” in the construction of Keystone.”

Our Clarification:

This is a red herring of the worst variety, deliberately misleading and deceptive. The “Koch Brothers” are not a customer of Keystone XL, so even though Mr. Steyer talks about how they will profit from its approval, they are not shipping product to their U.S. refineries through our pipeline network. If Mr. Steyer had bothered to examine the regulatory filing of Keystone XL in Canada he would have found 29 organizations and individuals filed for “Intervenor Status” including the Sierra Club.

TransCanada ranks #35 in annual corporate citizenship survey

There is a growing desire among employees worldwide to work for a socially responsible corporation. People want to work for the good guys and they want the work they do to be meaningful. Corporate Social Responsibility is quickly becoming a leading factor in employee attraction and retention. Aligning company operations with the values and concerns of employees and communities is quickly becoming one of the best ways to develop a well respected brand and employee engagement.

In addition to demand from employees for their employer to behave responsibly, a growing number of organizations are challenging companies to do the right thing. Corporate Knights Magazine, the magazine for “clean capitalism”, is shining its light on Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens.

“Our objective with the Best 50 Corporate Citizens project is to recognize Canada’s top sustainability performers and recognize sector best practices,” says Doug Morrow, managing director, Corporate Knights. “We want to show companies that it’s in their own financial interest to manage their sustainability file.”

Corporate Knights, an independent Canadian media and investment research company, rates companies on a suite of 12 quantitative indicators including how much water and energy they use and how much greenhouse gas emissions and waste they produce relative to the revenue they generate. Other indicators include the proportion of taxes paid relative to earnings, workplace health & safety measures, employee retention rates and more.

Making the list at #35 this year is TransCanada Corporation. This year marks the 7th year that TransCanada has appeared on the list since it began in 2002, and the company climbed from #44 last year.

“We understand the value of Corporate Social Responsibility and are committed to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner,” says Marie Rajic, TransCanada’s manager of corporate social responsibility. “Participating in annual surveys like this one allows us to deepen our understanding of our performance as a corporate citizen. It gives us an opportunity to assess areas of strength and areas for improvement.”

While it’s obvious that a list won’t change the world, Corporate Knights and organizations like it are part of a growing movement challenging companies to include people and the planet in their bottom line.

To find out more about Corporate Knights magazine’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens, and see who else made the list, What to learn who else made the list? Click here.

Facts continue to show how Keystone XL Pipeline will be safe and protect the environment along the entire route.

As the public comment period regarding the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) prepared by U.S. Department of State (DOS) for the Keystone XL Pipeline project (KXL) came to a close on April 22, a letter from the Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) caught people’s attention.

It was important for TransCanada to take the time to give the letter a thorough review — by experts both inside and outside the company.

As TransCanada indicated when this letter came out, there are no new issues identified that relate to current laws or practice for approval of an oil pipeline that crosses an international border.

Let’s not forget: More than 12,000 pages of documents have been published on KXL — including four federal environmental reviews in the past five years. The EPA has been a cooperating agency in all of the previous reviews and has been closely involved in each one.

While most pipeline projects take about two years to go through the review process, KXL has been part of the public agenda for almost 1,700 days, more than four-and-a-half years, making KXL the most exhaustively studied, cross-border pipeline ever.

While the EPA plays a role in providing comments and oversight into an application such as this, so do almost two dozen other local, state and federal agencies. Each of these agencies has a wide array of backgrounds and experiences, so the DOS is able to get the best input possible before a decision on KXL’s Presidential Permit is made.

In its letter to the DOS, the EPA failed to take into account a number of key facts about KXL — especially when it comes to safety. Safety is TransCanada’s top priority.

KXL will have a state-of-the-art leak detection system, and we will also evaluate new and evolving leak detection technologies to potentially augment the best-in-class leak detection capabilities of its current systems.

There will be 21,000 sensors along the entire length of the pipeline route, including the Gulf Coast Pipeline, which is currently under construction in Texas and Oklahoma. Sensors, in addition to 16,000 sensors on the original Keystone route, send round-the-clock real-time data via satellite about the operating conditions inside the line.

If an alarm goes off or our highly-trained operators detect something that warrants investigation, the pipeline will be shut down within minutes. And until TransCanada is satisfied everything is safe, the line is not re-started.

In fact, the previous federal environmental review stated that with the additional safety measures TransCanada has agreed to adopt, KXL will “result in a project that would have a degree of safety over any other typically constructed domestic oil pipeline under the current code.”

And while leak detection is essential, leak prevention is even more important. That’s why, in 2011 and 2012 alone, TransCanada invested more than $1.4 billion in our company’s safety, preventive maintenance and pipeline integrity programs. This is proactive work we do every day, making sure that we take reasonable steps to prevent incidents from happening in the first place.

Making sure our pipelines operate safely for decades not only makes good business sense, it’s just common sense.

The EPA letter refers to an “average crude oil” to compare against the “Canadian crude” that KXL will deliver, but this hypothetical “average crude oil” — if there were such a thing — isn’t what Keystone XL will displace.

Different crude oil blends vary from field to field. For example: Heavy oils produced in California have higher emission profiles than heavy oil from Alberta’s oil sands. The light sweet oil that KXL will transport comes from the U.S. Bakken formation. The EPA ignored these facts and failed to recognize that the oil transported through KXL will primarily displace the heavy crudes from Mexico and Venezuela. And study after study shows one simple point: Oil is oil.

As leading climate scientist Chip Knappenberger noted in his response to claims made by professional activists, “the carbon dioxide emissions produced from Keystone XL are only a (shrinking) drop in the bucket of global carbon dioxide emissions.”

The EPA also recommends that the U.S. involve itself in ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Canadian oil sands. This ignores Canada’s fundamental sovereignty, as well as that of the provinces and local governments that are already leading significant environmental progress in their jurisdictions.

If a Canadian province wanted to “involve itself in ways” to reduce GHG emissions from coal in the State of Georgia (for example), neither that state nor the U.S. government would welcome such “involvement.”

For the record, Alberta’s oil sands have strict regulations. The Government of Alberta implemented GHG regulations in 2007 (the first jurisdiction in North America to do so), requiring a mandatory 12 per cent reduction in GHG emissions intensity for all large industrial sectors, including existing oil sands, or payment in lieu (current carbon price is $15/tonne). Since 2007, these regulations have resulted in GHG reductions of 23 million tonnes, the equivalent of taking 4.8 million cars off the road.

The EPA did take issue with the notion that if KXL is not approved, then producers would find a way to move that product to market. But the reality is that with the delay of new pipeline infrastructure, companies are already looking for ways of getting their product to market.

Rail Theory Forecasts reported 19,000 coiled and insulated rail cars (capable of moving about 10.5 million barrels of heavy crude oil) were ordered by Canadian producers to carry heavy crude, scheduled to be delivered in 2014.

Sixteen rail transload terminals are being built/expanded in Western Canada by six companies. In the U.S., the transportation of crude oil by rail is already 55 per cent higher than in 2012.

So the facts show that the oil KXL will transport will find its way to market because it is needed — by all of us — for products that heat our homes, power business, fuel our vehicles and provide the energy needed to move consumer goods throughout North America every day. And statistics show that pipelines remain the safest way to get it there.

The real issue in this debate about a single oil pipeline is whether or not KXL benefits Americans and is in the country’s national interest.

Does it meet America’s rules and regulations to operate? We believe that the answer to all of these questions is yes. Our customers — including many who are U.S. Gulf Coast refiners — believe the answer is yes. And a growing number of Americans are saying yes to KXL as well. And that’s why TransCanada is committed to working through the regulatory review process and will continue to answer questions as they arise.

We will also continue to work with the EPA and other agencies to reduce GHGs from pipeline operations, as part of the Global Methane Initiative, established by the U.S. in 2004.

For more information, read TransCanada’s full technical response to the April 22, 2013, EPA letter, (PDF, 1.8 MB).

Marshall and Carol Treadwell have a home on the land that Marshall’s father bought in 1948. Located at the southern end of Rusk County, Texas, near the small town of Sacul, the Treadwells grow hay and hardwoods. His family also uses the land for recreational purposes and land improvements.

“We fish in the river, and I have taught my children and grandchildren to respect and honor what the land provides us,” Marshall says.

In 2008, the Treadwells were contacted by a TransCanada land agent who inquired about establishing a pipeline right-of-way that would parallel two existing right-of-ways on their property. The couple didn’t have any objections. A few months later, TransCanada contacted the Treadwells to negotiate compensation for the right-of-way, which would affect a timber planting Marshall made in 1998.

“The negotiations for the right-of-way and damages were exceedingly fair, and the people who I negotiated with were very professional,” explains Marshall. “My experiences with TransCanada and their sub-contractors have been a very positive association, and I gained a lot of knowledge and respect for the company.”

This respect for the company increased during construction of the Gulf Coast Pipeline last year after they read a letter to the editor in the local paper stating that the pipeline was “an ugly scar on the land.” The Treadwells contacted TransCanada about an idea to create a wildlife corridor on the part of their property where construction had occurred. As TransCanada always reclaims the land we work on, the company saw this as a unique reclamation opportunity and supported the Treadwells in the initiative. TransCanada is helping to replant trees that are beneficial to wildlife, such as oak, chestnut, pecan, hickory and bald cypress, along with local native shrubs such as pawpaws and mayhaws. On the part of the land that can’t support trees, the Treadwells plan to plant food for wildlife such as peas, clover, vetches, sorghum, corn and sunflowers which will provide seed and nutrition to a variety of wildlife. In order for the project to begin immediately, TransCanada proposed buying two and three-year-old trees rather than use seedlings. The project is expected to be completed by the end of May or early June.

“Pray for rain this summer,” says Marshall. “This will benefit not only the wildlife on my property, but all of the family that uses it as a recreational haven.”

The Treadwells have only positive things to say about their experience with TransCanada, stating that their dealings with the company have been “open, honest and exceedingly fair.” The couple has followed the progress of the Gulf Coast Pipeline Project closely, and has even responded to negative letters to the editor in their local paper. This has given them the opportunity to communicate to others their positive experiences with the company.

“Any time TransCanada had surveyors or employees of any type on my property they would always call me to notify me when they would be on my property. As the actual construction phase began, I was notified as to when they would arrive. Any changes or modifications to the right-of-way were to be made, I was called and informed of what, where and when, and at no time did I feel that TransCanada was anything but honest with me about the construction phase,” says Marshall.

Marshall says he supports the Gulf Coast Pipeline, recognizing the tremendous economic boom that it has brought to East Texas. Workers have been living in the area during construction and have rented motel rooms, RV parks, apartments and are using local amenities such as restaurants and grocery stores.

“After the construction is finished, the product delivered to our Gulf Coast refineries will not only benefit our state, but the entire nation. I am proud to have supported the construction from Cushing, Oklahoma, to the Gulf Coast and I support the construction of Keystone XL as well.”

TransCanada is extremely proud of the strong relationships we have built with more than 60,000 landowners across North America. Transforming the Treadwells’ right-of-way into a wildlife corridor shows how TransCanada and landowners can work together to reclaim land, support local wildlife and promote biodiversity.

“The relationship that we have with the Treadwells is an example of the type of relationship that we aim to have with all of our landowners,” explains Corey Goulet, vice president of Keystone Pipeline Projects. “It starts with treating them with respect and understanding what is important to them. We realize that people own land for various reasons and, to the extent possible, we want landowners to be able to use their land the way they did before we asked them for an easement agreement to allow us to build a pipeline on their property. In some cases, like this one, it is great to be able to work with the landowners to innovatively improve the land use for generations to come.”

Learn more about the Treadwell’s landowner negotiations experience in our recent blog post: Texas landowners voice their support.

Coastal GasLink wildlife study provides vital data for habitat protection.

Rapid-fire cameras, tucked away in remote wilderness areas along the conceptual route of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project, are helping TransCanada discover critical information about the habitat and movement of area wildlife.

The cameras, part of a broad environmental assessment, process data that will help determine the final pipeline route and minimize impacts during and following construction.

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd., a TransCanada subsidiary, is proposing a 650-kilometre (404-mile) pipeline to deliver natural gas from the Dawson Creek, B.C., area, to the LNG Canada gas liquefaction facility, proposed to be developed by Shell Canada Ltd. and its partners, near Kitimat, B.C., proposed to be developed by Shell Canada Ltd. and its partners.

“The conceptual pipeline route is based on a preliminary assessment of terrain, environment, social aspects and constructability,” says Heather Bishop, Senior Environmental Advisor. “Now we are taking a more thorough look to learn about wildlife and habitat in the conceptual corridor and to identify issues and potentially sensitive areas.”

The final route will be determined after technical and environmental reviews and feedback from landowners, Aboriginal groups and communities across northern B.C.

In the wilderness

The cameras, which are triggered by motion, were installed last fall — some in inaccessible areas that had to be accessed by helicopter. Environmental crews check the cameras bi-monthly to replace batteries if necessary, make adjustment for snow depth and retrieve the photos.

“We installed the cameras primarily in wildlife movement corridors such as game trails and the wetlands near rivers and streams,” says Heather. “We also placed them in caribou and mountain goat ranges where species may be particularly susceptible to the effects of the project.”

The cameras will be retrieved in late summer/early fall after nine or 10 months of snapping shots 24 hours a day, seven days a week — like the ones posted with this article — providing a close-up look at the hoofed animals, carnivores and other fur-bearing animals in the area.

As well as the remote cameras’ data, the wildlife study will include aerial surveys, identifying the spring staging areas of migratory waterfowl and the nesting areas of raptors, trumpeter swans and great blue herons.

The study includes ground-based surveys for a variety of birds including yellow rail, American bittern, sharp-tailed grouse, and short-eared owl and breeding songbirds, as well as surveys for pond-dwelling amphibians and other incidental species.

To learn more about TransCanada’s commitment to environmental responsibility environmental, visit TransCanada.com’s Environment page.

Lynne Palmer is a writer with TransCanada’s internal communications group.

Developing North America’s Energy Future: TransCanada’s 2012 annual report now online.

In a first for TransCanada, the 2012 Annual Report includes a video message to shareholders from President & CEO Russ Girling. In the video (above), Girling reflects on the challenges employees faced in 2012 and the perseverance and professionalism shown by the company in its commitment to provide North Americans with the energy they require in a safe and responsible manner.

Titled “Developing North America’s Energy Future,” the 2012 Annual Report features a new look and online presence. It’s a great source of official facts, figures and information about TransCanada and a must-see for anyone interested in how we are achieving our vision of becoming North America’s leading energy infrastructure company.

New research examining the properties of diluted bitumen (dilbit) is providing further proof that this form of crude oil is not more corrosive than conventional crudes – dispelling the myth that critics of TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline project have been spreading regarding the product.

A new report by Penspen Integrity, a division of the UK-based Penspen Limited, examined 40 studies addressing the behaviour of diluted bitumen and conventional crude. In these studies, which spanned over 40 years, the research concluded that diluted bitumen is no more corrosive when compared to conventional crude oil. The report commissioned by the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) was released on February 25, 2013.

“For several years, Keystone XL opponents have claimed that bitumen-derived crude oil from the oil sands is more corrosive in transmission pipelines than conventional crudes,” said Corey Goulet, Vice President, Keystone Pipeline Projects. “It is good to see that their misleading comments have been debunked through science, and a thorough review of the technical literature on-hand.”

The Penspen Integrity report also showed that tests were carried out using internationally recognized standards, which found that small differences in some components of the product did not increase the chances of corrosion developing in oil transmission pipelines.

In addition, monitoring and preventative maintenance programs used by transmission pipeline operators on conventional crude oil pipelines were equally as effective on pipelines containing diluted bitumen.

CEPA President and CEO Brenda Kenny said the results of the report are no surprise to the pipeline industry.

“We have always known, based on scientific facts and our pipelines’ operational histories, that diluted bitumen is no more corrosive than conventional crude,” she said. “Now, this manufactured myth can stop and Canadians can be further assured that our pipelines are safe regardless of the type of product they carry.

“It is important to have scientific evidence in front of Canadians, so they can make their own informed decisions, and not rely on misinformation.”

This is the second study released in several months to dispel the falsehoods spread on the effects of diluted bitumen.

In November, 2012, similar results from tests conducted by ASTM International also determined that corrosivity of oil sands-derived crudes is no different than that of other crudes.

Dennis Lanthier is a writer with TransCanada’s internal communications group.

Key supporters, media call for U.S. approval of Keystone XL Pipeline Project.

Reducing dependence on imported oil from overseas, putting thousands of skilled Americans to work and injecting millions of dollars into local economies are among the many benefits of approving the Keystone XL Pipeline. And calls for the $5.2-billion project to get underway after more than four years of review got louder this week as supporters gathered in Washington, DC to argue that the pipeline remains vital to the national interest of the United States.

“The quality and commitment of those standing with us demonstrates how vital this project is to U.S. national energy security, the economy and the average American worker,” says Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada’s president of energy and oil pipelines. “Approval of Keystone XL hinges on one fundamental fact: does the U.S. want its oil from a friendly neighbor in Canada and domestic sources like the Bakken play, or does it want to continue to import higher-priced foreign oil from nations that do not support U.S. values – it is that simple.”

Pourbaix joined representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers, Veterans in Piping, the United Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the US Chamber of Commerce and Michels Corp. – the primary contractor responsible for the current construction of TransCanada’s Gulf Coast Project – on Tuesday to outline the facts behind the project that is currently under review by the U.S. Department of State.

Besides supporting long-term U.S. energy security, Pourbaix pointed out that TransCanada is currently employing 4,000 American workers building the Gulf Coast Pipeline Project in Texas and Oklahoma – welders, mechanics, electricians, laborers, safety coordinators, heavy equipment operators – and hopes to employ another 9,000 building Keystone XL.

“Working on the Gulf Coast Project has afforded me a good income that allows me to support my family” said Michels employee and member of the Operating Engineers Local 139 Billy Rogers. “In addition, the construction of this project has had a significant impact in the local communities in which we work as the hundreds of crew members spend their money locally in restaurants, grocery stores, shops – everyone is benefiting. Contrary to what people may see or read, as a front line worker on the Gulf Coast Project, I have personally witnessed the support from the local residents we deal with daily during construction. They are happy to see us.”

Keystone XL will provide a lifeline for thousands of construction industry and trade union members across the country.

“With over 50 per cent unemployment in our Pipeline Construction sector, Keystone XL Pipeline Project stands as the largest single private investment opportunity for a path back to a paycheck for our members”, said United Association Special Representative David Barnett.

Veterans in Piping Training Specialist Mike Hazard said: “As a veteran, I know first hand the anxiety of returning to my family and community after serving in combat and uncertain how I will make ends meet.”

“The UA’s Veterans in Piping initiative is training veterans returning from Afghanistan and other far off places for jobs on the Keystone XL pipeline project. If Keystone XL isn’t approved, the U.S. will continue to rely on oil from unstable regimes instead of strengthening our relationship with Canada. Continuing to rely on oil from unstable political regimes would be counter intuitive to the values and ideals that inspire the volunteer spirit of the American military.”

The U.S. consumes 15 million barrels of oil each day and imports eight to nine million barrels. Both the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the International Energy Agency have forecast imports will remain in the 3.5-7.5 million barrels per day range well into 2035 – the need for oil remains strong. Keystone XL and the Gulf Coast Project have the capacity to displace 830,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of unstable foreign crude oil. We have dedicated 250,000 bbl/d of capacity to U.S. production – a critical need for states such as Montana and North Dakota.

“If you want to know why Americans are frustrated with Washington, you only need to look at Keystone project and the inexcusable bureaucracy and red tape,” said National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons said.

“In the State of the Union address and on the campaign trail, President Obama spoke a great deal about economic recovery and an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy. It’s beyond time for those words to be met with action. In a struggling economy, we must not pass up clear opportunities to create jobs and jumpstart growth. The Keystone XL pipeline will create thousands of manufacturing jobs while providing a supply of affordable energy to enhance manufacturers competitiveness. Keystone XL has been held up for far too long – we need approval immediately.”

“There is strong public support for Keystone XL,” American Petroleum Institute Executive Vice President Marty Durbin said. “A recent poll we conducted reports that 69 percent – more than two-thirds – of registered voters support building the pipeline. There’s also strong support among elected officials. A bipartisan majority of U.S. Senators and a bipartisan group of 146 House members have recently written to the president calling on him to approve the project. Labor groups are also on board. The Keystone XL pipeline project just makes sense and should be approved without further delay. ”

Numerous influential media outlets have also expressed their support for Keystone XL in recent weeks, with many pointing out that opposition to the project is based largely on exaggerated and inaccurate claims about the climate change impacts of crude oil produced in the Canada’s oil sands. The respected science journal Nature, for example, points out that heavy oil from California produces more greenhouse gas emissions.

“We agree with President Obama when he said last week we need to transition toward more sustainable sources of energy and greater energy independence. That’s why TransCanada has invested over $5 billion in emission-free energy. But a complete transition to renewable energy will take decades,’ Pourbaix said. “Through continuous technological improvements, oil sands producers have reduced per barrel emissions by 26 per cent since 1990. Alberta, where the oil sands are located, is the only jurisdiction in North America that has a carbon tax and the Canadian federal government has committed to phasing out all coal-fired power facilities.

“Keystone XL is the most studied cross-border pipeline ever proposed,” Pourbaix concluded. “It remains in America’s national interests to approve a pipeline that will have a minimal impact on the environment.”

More recent editorials supporting Keystone XL:

“The environmentalist case for the Keystone pipeline,” Bloomberg, Feb. 19, 2013.

“Build Keystone pipeline: Our view,” USA Today, Feb. 18, 2013.

“How not to fix climate change,” by Joe Nocera, New York Times, Feb. 18, 2013.

“How Obama might OK pipeline,” by Gerald Seib, Wall Street Journal, Feb. 18, 2013.

“8 reasons America should welcome Canada’s oil – and Keystone XL,” by Diane Francis, Financial Post, Feb. 15, 2013.

“Keystone protests resume, but none against oil imports from Nigeria?” by Andrew Revkin, New York Times, Feb. 14, 2013.

TransCanada begins work on high-efficiency Napanee Generating Station.

Ontario’s plan to eliminate all coal-fired electricity by the end of this year is generating opportunities for Greater Napanee, where TransCanada is planning to build a new 900-megawatt power facility on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Dozens of residents attended the first public open house on the Napanee Generating Station on February 11, in order to learn more about the proposed facility, ask questions and provide input to TransCanada staff as the initial stages of planning and environmental assessment get underway.

“Listening to local residents is critical to our planning process because we want to make sure the studies we are conducting will address the issues that are important to the community,” says John Mikkelsen, TransCanada’s director of Eastern Canada power generation. “We put a lot of effort into gathering input from our stakeholders because we believe it results in better decision making and a more successful project for everyone.”

TransCanada has contracts with the Ontario Power Authority to build, own and operate the power plant to help meet future electricity demand in the province as Ontario moves to cut greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. The facility will be located next to Ontario Power Generation’s existing Lennox Generating Station and will produce enough power to supply more than 900,000 homes. Napanee Generating Station will be a combined-cycle plant that employs leading technology to ensure emissions, noise and other potential impacts are minimized. It is expected to operate on weekdays to meet Ontario’s higher daily demand during the work week. The facility will play an important role following the retirement of Ontario’s 6,000-megawatt coal-fired fleet and during planned retirements and refurbishment of nuclear facilities later this decade. It will also provide a reliable backstop to intermittent renewable energy systems such as wind and solar.

Construction of the $1.2-billion facility is expected to begin in late-2014, after TransCanada receives the necessary municipal and provincial permits. Construction will take about two years and provide an estimated 600 jobs for skilled tradespeople and economic spin-off for local suppliers and businesses. During the 30-year life of the facility, it is expected to provide approximately 25 careers for local operations staff, $1-million in annual municipal tax revenues and TransCanada’s ongoing support and involvement in the community.

“The site that has been selected for the Napanee Generating Station is ideal because it is on property that is already zoned for power generation, has excellent connection to Ontario’s transmission system, natural gas and water supplies, and good access by road and rail,” Mikkelsen said. “We have voluntarily chosen to complete a more comprehensive environmental assessment process than is required by the Ministry of Environment and will provide our draft Environmental Review Report for public review and comments later this year.”

The Napanee Generating Station will be an important addition to TransCanada’s energy portfolio, which includes natural gas-fired power plants, wind farms, solar and hydro generation and significant ownership of the Bruce Power nuclear facility. TransCanada owns or has interests in approximately 11,800 MW of power generation, enough to supply more than 11 million homes.

For more information and to provide input on the Napanee Generating Station, visit the project’s website at NapaneeGS.com.

TransCanada volunteers enhance large pledge with work on Nature Conservancy’s wetland habitat.

In 2008, TransCanada made a visionary leadership gift in honour of its 50th anniversary, pledging $2.4 million to support conservation of critical wildlife habitat in Alberta and Saskatchewan, in partnership with the Friends of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).

Since then, this significant gift has been leveraged with funds from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and the Government of Canada’s Natural Areas Conservation Program, along with many other supporters, resulting in a total conservation investment of $18.6 million. This has led to the conservation of 22,835 acres on 47 ecologically significant properties in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Take down: TransCanada volunteers assist the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) by removing old fencing from prime wetland habitat near Pine Lake, along the Red Deer River in Alberta.

TransCanada should be especially proud of the progress made on protecting prime wetland habitat along the Red Deer River in Alberta. As the sole private sector investor in the NCC’s Red Deer River Natural Area project, TransCanada’s support has led to nearly $8.1 million invested in conserving 14 high-priority properties.

This network of wetlands on private and Crown land plays a vital role in purifying water, preventing flooding, and providing homes for a wide variety of plants and animals including beaver, moose and dozens of bird species.

TransCanada staff also got their hands dirty on this important project, pitching in to help with some of the hard physical labour that nature conservation requires.

Cleanup crew: TransCanada employees assist the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) with cleanup of prime wetland habitat near Pine Lake, along the Red Deer River in Alberta.

On a sunny, late-summer day last September, I joined a group of 35 TransCanada employees who volunteered their time to work on the Boote property near Pine Lake. The team spent time removing hazardous stretches of wire threatening wildlife, eradicating non-native caragana shrubs, and cleaning-up years of abandoned garbage and scrap metal.

By volunteering a single day of their time, they allowed us to accomplish priority restoration work that would have taken several days, if not weeks, of staff and contractor time.

The day culminated with the installation of a property sign announcing the conservation of 98 acres of prime wetland habitat. This seemingly simple act was an exciting moment for all of us because it represented years of hard work and collaboration coming to fruition.

Fencing crew: TransCanada employees repair fencing on prime wetland habitat near Pine Lake, along the Red Deer River in Alberta, as they assist the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).

It also marks the beginning of the long-term management and restoration of these lands.

It was so rewarding to see the look of satisfaction in the faces of those volunteers who said that they found it so meaningful to see, firsthand, where TransCanada’s support was going.

It was a perfect example of how NCC’s Conservation Volunteers program focuses on engaging volunteers in hands-on conservation projects out in nature. Volunteers who get involved not only have the opportunity to take part in meaningful conservation work with NCC, they also have the opportunity to experience and learn about some of the country’s most amazing natural landscapes firsthand.
.
I would like to take the opportunity to once again thank TransCanada for its dedication and support for protecting some of Canada’s most beautiful and fragile landscapes. We look forward to continuing our work with you in the future!

Guest Blog Post: Kailey Setter is a co-ordinator with Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Conservation Volunteers program in Alberta.