Climate and Energy

New report highlights risks of Kinder Morgan pipeline project

Houston, TX and Vancouver, BC - Today First Nation leader Rueben George was joined by Eugene Kung of West Coast Environmental Law and Lisa Lindsley of SumOfUs at the Kinder Morgan annual shareholders meeting in Houston, Texas. Their remarks to Kinder Morgan shareholders were reinforced by a report released today by Stand in Vancouver, Canada entitled “Top 7 reasons You Can’t Trust Kinder Morgan.”

Announcement brings B.C. one step closer to a legislated ban

For Immediate Release

June 21, 2010 (Vancouver, B.C.) – Environmental groups are praising Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party of Canada for their commitment today to formalize the oil tanker ban in British Columbia. Such a ban would prevent crude oil tankers from traveling through BC’s Central and North Coast.

VANCOUVER, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES– The Federal Court of Canada has ruled that Canada failed to uphold its constitutional duties to the Mikisew Cree First Nation when it rammed through sweeping changes to federal environmental laws in 2012. West Coast Environmental Law congratulates the Mikisew Cree on their successful legal challenge to the federal government’s 2012 changes to environmental protection and assessment laws.

But BC must work with British Columbians to refine its approach if this potential is to be met.

Vancouver - Integrated resource planning to meet BC’s energy objectives must also address broader environmental and social impacts if we are serious about responsible renewable electricity development in BC, says West Coast Environmental Law in response to Bill 17 – the Clean Energy Act introduced by the BC Government yesterday.

VANCOUVER – Vancouver-based West Coast Environmental Law Association condemned BC’s Climate Leadership Plan, released today by the BC Government, for failing to provide a road-map to meet the province’s climate commitments. The plan – which failed to implement key recommendations of BC’s blue-ribbon Climate Leadership Team – will get BC just halfway towards its legislated targets to reduce fossil fuel pollution.

Vancouver -  The provincial government’s decision to move ahead on the Site C dam is irresponsible given the massive environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed hydroelectric project. BC needs to immediately begin a process to responsibly and strategically plan the development of BC’s renewable electricity resources to ensure public benefit while limiting the environmental and social impacts of new generation.

VANCOUVER - Josh Paterson, staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law Association, made the following statement in response to learning that funding for non-First Nations community groups to participate in the environmental assessment of the proposed Site C Dam has been capped and limited to particular activities:

Several environmental organizations today released a blueprint for improving the planning and development of renewable electricity projects in British Columbia. The recommendations, authored by the David Suzuki Foundation, the Pembina Institute, Watershed Watch Salmon Society and West Coast Environmental Law, have been endorsed by 25 environmental organizations across the province.