Dirty oil to Cleaner Energy, What is Next?

What is Dirty Oil in Alberta oilsands

Dirty oil or tarsands in the Alberta oilsands industry is what environmentalist are all worried about. Dirty oil refers to the remains after the removal of the oil from the oilsands. Alberta oilsands accounts for the only commercially mined oilsands in the world. Though there are other oilsands reserves, in the United States and Venezuela, Canada has the only commercially viable development. Located in Northern Alberta in the Athabasca region, Alberta oilsands companies such as Suncor, Petro Canada, and Husky Energy have been extracting the dirty oil for over 30 years. With the improvement in technology and the rising US dollar per barrel cost of oil, Alberta oilsands represents the worlds largest growing oil reserves. Dirty oil is what the environmentalist focus on, however, when they discuss this potential. The Alberta government and the Alberta oilsands companies disagree with the environmentalist and cite reasons such as the improvement in extraction technology and the already present dirty oil in the region. The fact is dirty oil exists in Northern Alberta’s Athabasca region and the oilsands companies are not making the situation any worse. However, in the eyes of the environmentalist they measure the green house gases created by dirty oil production and the environmental impact on wildlife such as ducks who are dying as a direct result of exposure.

What types of Clean energy alternatives are there?

But if dirty oil is not the solution for the worlds energy consumption then what other clean energy alternatives are there? We have solar energy which harnesses the power of direct sunlight to convert the heat to usable power. Solar energy is clean and renewable. The harnessing of solar energy does not create greenhouse gases and solar energy is a renewable resource. While solar energy technology has been available for more than two decades, the production of solar energy has not been cost effective or commercially viable up to the present time. We see limited uses of solar energy as a clean energy alternatives by homeowners who place solar panels on their roofs to supplement their home’s power consumption needs. Some firms have been selling solar energy packs which can be used to recharge batteries on cars or boats and even provide hot water for a shower in the wilderness. Another clean energy alternative is wind power. The clean energy alternative created by wind is through the use of wind farms that harness the power of wind to turn turbines and create energy that can be stored or transmitted for direct use. Wind energy is a growing clean energy alternative but currently still plays a small role in clean energy consumption in the world. One of the requirements of using wind energy is the availability of lots of land in a fairly windy environment. Afterall we need wind to turn the turbines to create the energy. The cost of wind turbines and the need for constant replacement is also one of the reasons why we don’t see a large development of wind turbines in every city.

Dirty oil or clean energy alternatives, who will win the Energy wars?

Dirty oil or clean energy alternatives, who will win? The answer is not as simple as stating that one energy is better than the other and we should stop using one for the other. The world is a bit more complex than this and dirty oil makes money for many investors as well as provides a reliable, fairly inexpensive source of energy. Dirty oil has a limited supply but this supply will stay last for more than a few hundred years given current technology. With the improvement in technology we may see dirty oil last even longer and burn cleaner than it is currently doing. Clean energy alternatives such as solar energy and wind energy will depend greatly on the improvement in technology in helping lower their production cost and raise their output. The ability to provide a commercially viable source of clean alternative energy is the big hindrance in the rapid development and acceptance of this apparent valuable resource. It is interesting to note that even Alberta Oilsands company Suncor produces clean energy using biofuel and is wind power. Suncor is an integrated energy company and uses oilsands, biofuel, and wind power as the tools to provide energy to the world.

Alberta Oil is cheap supply for US Obama

Ed Stelmach says US will need Alberta Oil

Alberta oilsands produces a reliable and secure oil source for the US. Ed Stelmach sent a clear message to the Obama administration when he said US will need Alberta oil in the future. It is important for the US to recognize that Canada’s Alberta rich oil sands is a secure and cheap source of oil for the growing US Demand. Fossil fuels including the oilsands will provide more than 80% of the supply needed to satisfy world demand for oil. It is in the best interest for the US to work closely with Canada in implementing a viable solution to develop the oilsands responsibly. Expel the myths and produce the facts of Alberta oil and let the world know what the Alberta oilsands companies can do to protect the environment. In 2008, the Alberta Government created a $2 billion dollar fund to promote solutions to solving the dirty oil problem. This and other solutions from the oilsands’ companies themselves will serve to promote this abundant resource for the growing demand for oil consumption.

Obama concerned about Alberta Dirty Oil

Obama has an aggressive plan to combat climate change. He says that we can not punish the future by exploiting the present and we will not tolerate the increase in green house gas emissions while he is President. This is a direct blow to Alberta oilsands companies and the growing environmental concern about ‘dirty oil’. Alberta’s dirty oil image is a picture of an environmental disaster waiting to happen. We are shown images of Northern Alberta’s oilsands production in Fort McMurray, the Athabasca region, and how the destruction and carnage of the environment is occurring without concern. Environmentalist are adamant that dirty oil in Alberta cannot continue and they will work harder in showing the world the truth that is happening to this ecosystem. Obama further stated that his presidency will reduce the US’s dependence on ‘dirty oil’ for good. Ed Stelmach of the Alberta government on the other hand has been working vigorously in fighting the environmentalist by dispelling the myths behind their stories.

Dirty Alberta Oil: Myths and Facts

Myths about Alberta oilsands are abundant. But what are the true facts of what the Alberta oilsands is doing to the environment. With a $2 billion dollar investment by the Alberta Government in researching solutions to develop the oilsands more cautiously, we are sure to hear a lot of buzz about the oilsands in the near future. One of the myths about the oilsands is the amount of impact that oilsands has on the environment. A study was done comparing the emissions that currently are produced by coal production, a large polluter in the US and China, versus the oilsands. When compared with this polluter, the oilsands represents less than 1 percent of the emissions being emitted by coal production. Another myth follows about the oilsands environmental impact due to tarsands pools created from extracting the oil and leaving the toxic remains behind. Of course the toxic remains have always existed in the area even without removing the oil. The environmentalist are concerned that the process of extracting the oilsands will create a bigger impact than if no production was done. While this may be true of only some rare situations, the truth is that the tarsands production is very careful in leaving behind tarsands pools in a way that will not be worse than the original case. Of course the results are hard to prove by both sides given the short amount of time that has passed since the production of the oilsands.

Alberta oil sands project cancellations

Over 200 billion to be lost in Alberta oil sands investment

As more and more projects are halted on a daily basis in the Alberta oil sands, estimates of $97 to $241 billion will be loss in investment. (read article: http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1258599) A loss of this magnitude will affect the investment environment in Alberta and the Canadian economy. With a big loss will also come a reduction in the amount of labour employed by the Alberta oil sands companies and loss revenue to the province of Alberta. The figure of 200 billion may seem arbitrary but this would represent 1/3 of the proposed investments in the Alberta Oil sands over the next decade. Imagine the loss in revenue to the Alberta and Canadian government and all the well paid Alberta oil sands jobs that will never be started. Alberta oil sands investments may seem to be risky in light of this figure and the potential of even bigger numbers to come. Depending on the severity of the global financial crisis and the ability of Alberta oil sands companies to survive the Alberta recession, we may see Alberta oil sands investments become the jewel once again in Canada.

Alberta oil sands project cancellations

BA Energy became the first Alberta oil sands company to file for bankruptcy in 2009. Imperial Oil and Exxon and Husky Oil are all slowing down existing projects or have project cancellations and postponements. If a project cancellation occurs there is an indeterminate amount of time before it may be started. The effect on labour is huge as many existing workers are laid off and no new labour is required or forecast. This will inevitably lead to an Alberta Recession as the Alberta oil sands projects account for a significant share of the labour demand. Alberta oil sands project cancellations are not a bad thing on the other hand. If you think about it, the Alberta oil sands have been running at near full capacity for the last five years. The impact can be felt by the labour force through increased injuries and WCB claims and increased job dissatisfaction as a result of over work and too much stress. The other big impact is the environment and Alberta oil sands negative image as dirty oil or tainted oil. With a slow down in production the Alberta oil sands companies including the Alberta government now have the resources to invest in improving the processes that are used in developing the tarsands. Perhaps we will not hear the word dirty oil or tainted oil in the following decade.

US Oil Prices and Alberta oil sands

US oil prices have a big impact on the Alberta oil sands. It seems that no matter how high the price of US oil we all need to drive. When the price of US oil reached $4 a gallon there was a revolt in many parts of the World including the US. But people still drove their SUVs and trucks still delivered their goods. The oil companies made record quarterly profits silently in the background of all the outrage. With low US oil prices we see a shift in production of the Alberta oil sands and a reduction in production and new projects. The Alberta oil sands companies must make a profit as like any other business and when the profits are low or negative then it becomes survival mode. The large Alberta oil sands companies have been around for up and down markets and realize that the prices will fluctuate 2 to 3 times during the expected life of their projects. These Alberta oil sands companies keep large cash reserves and tightly guard this as their strategic weapon in times such as these. It is sometimes a blessing for them to be in a global financial crisis as they get to pick up distressed junior oil and gas companies without the financial resources at bargain prices.

Public views of Environmental impact of Alberta Oil Sands and Alberta Oil Sands Companies

What people think about Alberta Oil Sands

What do you think the public sees when they think of the Alberta Oil Sands? Is it that the Alberta Oil Sands image is one of only monetary gain at the expense of the environment? Or is it even worse and they believe that once the Oil Sands are without oil then the companies will leave a dirty oil legacy and not care about their environmental impact at all. Some people, especially the people who work in the Alberta oil sands, are working hard at dispelling any false beliefs and any wrong public opinions. Of course since the Alberta Oil Sands is so far north and only migratory birds get a birds eye view of the impact, this is a harsh uphill battle for the public relations people who work for these Oil Sand companies. Nevertheless, these Oil Sand firms will spend vast amounts of money documenting their success at reducing their carbon footprint while benefitting not only themselves but the communities and the great country of Canada. This article is about this view of the Alberta Oil Sands and firms that work in the oil sand fields.

What Alberta Oil Sands Companies are doing about their image

Whether we are in a recession or a market boom, Alberta Oil Sands companies are very concerned about what the public views of their operations and their environmental impact. Communities such as Fort McMurray in Northern Alberta are complaining that the big Alberta Oil Sand company is making their environment very dirty. These companies have changed the environment that they live in and will forever leave them with a legacy of dirty oil. This powerful environmental impact will be due to the greed of the Alberta Oil Sands Companies and will not benefit the communities at all. Of course when you talk with the Alberta Oil Sands Companies such as Imperial Oil or Shell you hear a whole different story. The large Alberta Oil Sands Companies’ opinions are that there is a large mistrust in their operations as a result of publics’ high dependence on the industry’s products but poor understanding of what it actually does. More importantly, they say people are viewing their companies from way up from space and only really see lights but not the real detail. In fact, the Alberta Oil Sands company has been doing a lot to counteract the effects of their operations on the environment and they would like to inform the public better of their actions on this front. Hopefully the future of towns such as Fort McMurray will have a positive attitude towards the growth and prosperity of their communities as a direct result of the Alberta Oil Sands companies. This is the image that public relations is working hard and spending a lot of money to achieve. Will it work or will it backfire on them, only time and perhaps the media can tell.

Recent poll of public’s opinion of Environmental Impact of Alberta Oil Sands

A recent poll taken by Alberta Oil Sands companies aimed at finding out public opinion on the environmental impact that the oil sands companies are having and what people really thought about this topic. The poll was a 60 question telephone poll and asked 425 people in Edmonton and an equal number in Toronto. The results of the poll drew similar conclusions including: the Alberta Oil Sands image problems are broader than any one company, that Canadians believe that it’s possible to develop the Alberta Oil Sands while protecting the environment, that they see technology as a large part of the solution, and that they are most concerned about the environmental impact of projects on the fresh water and greenhouse gas emissions.