Why carbon capture is an illusion

On March 10, Environment Minister John Baird released detailed regulations to address global warming. These so-called tough measures lean heavily on new technology that captures and stores greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Baird says catching carbon emitted from coal-fired power plants and tar-sands projects, then burying it deep underground, is a large part of Canada meeting its greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2020 and 2050.

This is unlikely. Even if we set aside the fact that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has set new, weaker goals so that Canada is no longer holds up its share of the Kyoto agreement, the sorry truth is that carbon capture and storage is a kind of fool’s gold — all glitter and promise, but of no real worth. It won’t enable us to meet even these weaker commitments, and it will be an expensive, diversionary tactic while Canada climbs the carbon charts.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080318.wcomment0319/BNStory/Front/home

Independent water review sought of Alberta coal-bed methane effects

Landowners who claim that oil and gas drilling has contaminated their tap water want the province to reopen investigations into their complaints.

In letters sent Wednesday to Alberta Environment, the landowners contend an Alberta Research Council report, released in January, was inadequate and should be reviewed by independent scientists.

Read the entire story here:

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=29bb0eb7-ac91-49eb-884e-03cf12570ffa 

BLM to study elk’s reaction to natural gas development

CHEYENNE (AP) — The Bureau of Land Management says it’s undertaking a four-year study of an elk herd in the Fortification Creek area of Campbell County and how the animals are affected by coalbed natural gas development.

Thirty-nine elk will be collared and monitored to determine the amount of development activity the animals can tolerate. The study will look at disturbances including traffic levels, noise and habitat loss.

Read the entire atory here:

http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2008/03/19/local_news_updates/18local_03-19-08.txt