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☆ Alberta premier says province open to providing carbon capture tax credits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Shell employee walks past the company's new Quest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facility in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, October 7, 2021. REUTERS/Todd KorolJan 10 (Reuters) - Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta is open to bolstering tax credits for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology but also wants the federal government to increase financial support, Premier Danielle Smith said on Tuesday. Carbon capture and storage is seen as a key plank in global efforts to fight climate change by cutting emissions, and last April Ottawa unveiled tax credits designed to spur investment in the costly technology. Last week Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged the province to use its budget surplus to boost the tax credits. "We are working towards the same goal...then we can figure out what portion comes from federal tax relief and what portion comes from provincial tax relief," Smith said.

☆ Meet the guy whose algorithm could solve the crisis of America's empty office space
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Zoe Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Converting offices into apartments brings people back to downtown areas as residents, not commuters. The algorithm is able to quickly assess which office buildings are viable for conversion to apartments, which are known in industry parlance as multifamily residential. "And then, actually, the demand for the remaining office buildings goes up, because you're creating scarcity by taking some out of the market." Most urban centers lack sufficient housing, but turning office buildings into apartments helps add additional units to rent or buy. About 28% of the area's office space is vacant.

☆ NHL roundup: John Klingberg lifts Ducks over Sharks in OT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Anaheim's Troy Terry, who was named an All-Star this week, carried the puck to the front of the San Jose goal in overtime and sent a pass back to Klingberg, who beat Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen. Trevor Zegras and Ryan Strome added goals for the Ducks, while Anthony Stolarz had 37 saves in his first game since he faced the Sharks on Dec. 9. Timo Meier had two goals for the Sharks, while Erik Karlsson added a first-period assist to extend his franchise-record point streak to 14 games. Matt Nieto and Steven Lorentz added goals for the Sharks, Kevin Lebanc logged two assists and Kahkonen made 24 saves. Yakov Trenin added a goal and an assist and Thomas Novak also scored for Nashville.

☆ Canada's Trudeau urges Alberta to contribute to carbon-capture incentives
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We've seen for a while Alberta hesitating around investing in anything related to climate change. But CCUS is one of those tangible things," Trudeau told Reuters in an interview. The Canadian oil and gas industry wants a level playing field as Ottawa targets net zero emissions by 2050, the same goal set by U.S. President Joe Biden. "One of the challenges is there is a political class in Alberta that has decided that anything to do with climate change is going to be bad for them or for Alberta," Trudeau said. In the interview, Trudeau also took aim at his main rival, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, for casting Canada as "broken".

Rogers-Shaw and Quebecor await approval from Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to transfer Freedom Mobile Inc's spectrum license to Videotron. However, in its Thursday ruling, the tribunal said acquiring Freedom Mobile would allow Videotron to expand in new markets and ensure robust competition. The antitrust commissioner could still appeal after the tribunal details its decision over the next couple of days. The objection by the Competition Bureau was the main hurdle to overcome," Cormark Securities analyst David McFadgen said. He said there are "significant" revenue synergies for Rogers from bundling services, while Quebecor has better growth prospects from the Freedom Mobile deal.

The two companies had appealed the tribunal after the competition bureau rejected Shaw's proposal to sell Freedom Mobile Inc to rival Quebecor Inc's (QBRb.TO) Videotron unit for C$2.85 billion to facilitate the deal. However, in its Thursday ruling, the tribunal said such a sale would allow Videotron to expand in new markets and ensure competition remains robust. "I am very disappointed that the Tribunal is dismissing our application to block the merger between Rogers and Shaw," Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, said. The antitrust commissioner could still appeal after the tribunal lays out the details of its decision over the next couple of days. Rogers-Shaw and Quebecor now await approval from Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to transfer Freedom Mobile's spectrum license to Videotron.

☆ Canada competition tribunal rules in favor of $14.8 bln Rogers-Shaw deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Canada's competition tribunal approved on Thursday Rogers Communications Inc's (RCIb.TO) C$20 billion ($14.77 billion) bid for Shaw Communications Inc (SJRb.TO), ending the companies' 20-month-old dispute with the antitrust authority. Canada's competition bureau had blocked the merger - one of the country's biggest - on grounds that it would reduce competition. In a ruling late on Thursday, the Competition Tribunal dismissed the Commissioner of Competition's request to oppose the deal, saying that the deal is "not likely to prevent or lessen competition substantially." The panel also ruled that the proposed deal is not likely to lead to "materially higher" prices or a decline in service, quality or innovation. "I am very disappointed that the Tribunal is dismissing our application to block the merger between Rogers and Shaw.

☆ Winter storm causes havoc across Canada, disrupts holiday travel
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] People arrive at terminal 3 during a winter storm at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada December 23, 2022. The storm was expected to affect about two-thirds of all Canadians as it moves across Canada's two most populous provinces, Ontario and Quebec, toward Atlantic Canada, said Environment Canada meteorologist Steve Flisfeder. Winter storms have increased in frequency and intensity over the past 70 years, according to the U.S. Canada's second-largest carrier WestJet Airlines proactively cancelled all its flights at airports in Toronto, Ottawa and the province of Quebec, citing bad weather. Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Insomnia is a $5 billion business — and this former sleep doctor thinks it's time for a new approach
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Ari Levy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

Daniel Erichsen, founder of the Sleep Coach School Daniel ErichsenDaniel Erichsen spent about a decade as a sleep doctor, primarily seeing patients who were struggling with sleep apnea and insomnia. According to market research firm Imarc, the global insomnia market will hit $5.1 billion this year and climb to $6.1 billion by 2028. Other apps, including some backed by venture capital firms, promote cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I. That therapy is meant to change the way people think about sleep and incorporates behavior changes like sleep restriction and stimulus control. Kendall's message, which mirrors much of Erichsen's teachings, is that sleep is simple, but insomnia makes it seem complex.

Companies TC Energy Corp FollowDec 23 (Reuters) - TC Energy Corp (TRP.TO) on Friday said that a U.S. regulator had approved a restart plan for an idled segment of its Keystone oil pipeline to Cushing, Oklahoma, and it looked to restore service after several days of testing and inspections. The 622,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) pipeline was shut on Dec. 7 after it spilled 14,000 barrels of oil in rural Kansas, the biggest U.S. spill in nine years. The shutdown reduced the flow of Canadian crude to Gulf refineries, but it has had little impact on Canadian oil prices, partly because of ample storage in Alberta. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) approved the restart plan, TC said. Frigid weather at the spill site may slow work, TC said.

Canada is in the midst of building a large terminal to export LNG, but its completion is two years away. Canadian gas production is on track to reach a record 18 bcfd in 2022 and 19 bcfd in 2023, according to energy consultancy Rystad Energy. Pipelines are also constrained in Canada due to swift production growth, particularly TC Energy Corp's (TRP.TO) NGTL pipeline system that ships gas around and out of western Canada. In August, gas prices in Alberta briefly turned negative because of bottlenecks stemming from NGTL maintenance. U.S. LNG exports are expected to reach 10.6 bcfd in 2022 and 12.3 bcfd in 2023, according to federal estimates.

☆ TC Energy sends ruptured Keystone pipeline segment for testing after regulator order
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies TC Energy Corp FollowDec 21 (Reuters) - TC Energy (TRP.TO) said on Wednesday that it had safely removed the ruptured segment of Keystone pipeline that caused an oil spill earlier this month and sent it for metallurgical testing as directed by U.S. regulators. TC Energy Corp had submitted its plan to restart the Keystone pipeline to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the line ruptured in the worst oil spill in the United States in nine years. More than 400 people are involved in the cleanup, including TC workers, pipeline regulators, state and local officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Parts of the pipeline carrying oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois opened last week at reduced capacity.

☆ The Year in Pictures 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +57 min

Every year, starting in early fall, photo editors at The New York Times begin sifting through the year’s work in an effort to pick out the most startling, most moving, most memorable pictures. But 2022 undoubtedly belongs to the war in Ukraine, a conflict now settling into a worryingly predictable rhythm. Erin Schaff/The New York Times “When you’re standing on the ground, you can’t visualize the scope of the destruction. Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25. We see the same images over and over, and it’s really hard to make anything different.” Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb 26.

☆ Netflix Harry and Meghan docuseries shows Prince Williams isn't the only one they alienated
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Debwaldman Is A Writer | Editor In Edmonton | Alberta. She Is Working On A Memoir About Suicide | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

I had no intention of watching the Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” the first three episodes of which dropped Dec. 8. I want to admire Harry and Meghan. The fact is, I’ve always liked Meghan and Harry. I’m not sure if the point of “Harry & Meghan” was to make people feel sorry for them, but that’s certainly one of the messages I got, and I found it cringeworthy. I want to admire Harry and Meghan.

☆ Strep A is surging in the UK and has already killed at least 19 children. Here's why it's taken so long to make a vaccine against this deadly pathogen.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Strep A is surging in the UK and has killed at least 19 kids, the UK Health Security Agency said. A vaccine would be better, but research groups have hit roadblocks during its development. Researchers have been trying to make a strep-A vaccine for decadesIf it's caught in time, strep A can be treated with antibiotics. There is no vaccine commercially available, but several research groups are working on developing one. A GSK spokesperson confirmed to Insider that it's also in the early stages of developing a strep-A vaccine but that it had not started human testing.

☆ Keystone pipeline rupture spilled diluted bitumen, complicating cleanup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Rod Nickel | Mrinalika Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) -The oil spilled from TC Energy Corp’s ruptured Keystone pipeline was diluted bitumen, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Thursday, adding complications to the cleanup. The report said that when diluted bitumen spills, a thick, dense material forms as a residue after exposure to the environment. “For this reason, spills of diluted bitumen pose particular challenges when they reach water bodies,” the report said. The Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, questioned why parts of the pipeline reopened before TC Energy had identified the leak’s cause. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, state and local agencies, TC Energy and TC Energy contractors, the agency said.

☆ Keystone pipeline break spilled diluted bitumen, complicating cleanup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Rod Nickel | Mrinalika Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) -The oil spilled from TC Energy Corp’s ruptured Keystone pipeline was diluted bitumen, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Thursday, adding complications to the cleanup. REUTERS/Drone Base/File PhotoThe 622,000 barrels per day (bpd) pipeline was shut last week after it spilled 14,000 barrels of oil in rural Kansas, including into a creek. The parts of the pipeline carrying oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois opened on Wednesday at reduced capacity. The Sierra Club, another environmental advocacy group, questioned why parts of the pipeline reopened before TC Energy had identified the leak’s cause. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, state and local agencies, TC Energy and TC Energy contractors, the agency said.

[1/3] Emergency crews work to clean up the largest U.S. crude oil spill in nearly a decade, following the leak at the Keystone pipeline operated by TC Energy in rural Washington County, Kansas, U.S., December 9, 2022. REUTERS/Drone Base/File PhotoDec 14 (Reuters) - Canada's TC Energy Corp (TRP.TO) is resuming operations in a section of its Keystone pipeline a week after a leak of more than 14,000 barrels of oil in rural Kansas triggered the whole pipe's shutdown. "This restart facilitates safe transportation of the energy that customers and North Americans rely on and extends from Hardisty, Alberta, to Wood River/Patoka, Illinois," TC Energy said. Oil sprayed nearby pastures and leaked into Mill Creek before being shut by operator TC Energy. Market players had speculated that TC Energy might first restart the leg of the pipeline that delivers to Patoka, Illinois.

REUTERS/Drone Base/File PhotoDec 14 (Reuters) - One week after Canada's Keystone pipeline spilled more than 14,000 barrels of oil in rural Kansas in the United States, the cause is still unknown, according to regulators. Oil sprayed nearby pastures and leaked into Mill Creek before being shut by operator TC Energy. The timeline for the full restart of the pipeline remained uncertain, and neither a root cause failure analysis nor a restart plan had been submitted, the U.S. The spill occurred in Washington County, Kansas, about 20 miles (32 km) south of a junction in Steele City, Nebraska, where Keystone splits into two. "We don't have a confirmation of a timeline and anticipate an update on restart today," TC said in an email.

Dec 14 (Reuters) - Canada's TC Energy Corp (TRP.TO) said it expects to give an update on the Keystone pipeline restart later on Wednesday, a week after the 622,000 barrel-per-day pipeline was shut after leaking oil into a creek in Kansas. Keystone is a crucial artery shipping Canadian crude south to U.S. refineries and traders have been awaiting news of when it may restart operations. Market players have speculated TC may first restart the leg of the pipeline that delivers to Patoka, Illinois, which did not leak. "We don't have a confirmation of a timeline and anticipate an update on re-start today," TC said in an email. The Mainline moves 3.1 million bpd of Canadian crude to refineries in the U.S. Midwest and eastern Canada.

☆ Oil edges up on U.S. pipeline restart uncertainty, Russian supplies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Emily Chow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Oil prices are higher as the Keystone pipeline remains shut, China's COVID controls ease and on concerns that Russia could reduce output," said Edward Moya, a senior market analyst for OANDA. On Sunday, Canada's TC Energy (TRP.TO) said it had not yet determined the cause of the Keystone oil pipeline leak last week in the United States. Putin said on Friday that Russia, the world's biggest exporter of energy, could cut production and would refuse to sell oil to any country that imposes a "stupid" price cap on Russian exports agreed by G7 nations. While the uncertainty surrounding European Union sanctions on Russian oil and the related price cap kept volatility high on prices, the sanctions have had a limited impact on global markets so far, ANZ analysts said in a note. Saudi Arabia's energy minister also said on Sunday that the impact of the European sanctions and price cap measures had had no clear results yet, and that its implementation was still unclear.

"Oil prices are higher as the Keystone pipeline remains shut, China's COVID controls ease and on concerns that Russia could reduce output," said Edward Moya, a senior market analyst for OANDA. On Sunday, Canada's TC Energy (TRP.TO) said it has not yet determined the cause of the Keystone oil pipeline leak last week in the United States, while also not giving a timeline as to when the pipeline will resume operations. While the uncertainty surrounding European Union sanctions on Russian oil and the related price cap kept volatility high on prices, the sanctions have had a limited impact on global markets so far, ANZ analysts said in a note. In the U.S., Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen forecast a substantial reduction in U.S. inflation in 2023, barring an unexpected shock. Reporting by Florence Tan and Emily Chow; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oil prices climb on uncertainty over Keystone pipeline restart, Russian supplies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies TC Energy Corp FollowSINGAPORE, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose more than 1% in early Asian trade on Monday as a key Canada-United States crude pipeline stayed shut while Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to cut production in retaliation against a Western price cap on Russian oil exports. Brent crude futures climbed 83 cents, or 1.1%, to $76.93 a barrel by 0020 GMT. On Sunday, Canada's TC Energy (TRP.TO) said it has not yet determined the cause of the Keystone oil pipeline leak last week in the United States, while also not giving a timeline as to when the pipeline will resume operations. Meanwhile Russia's Putin said on Friday that his country, the world's biggest exporter of energy, could cut oil production and will refuse to sell oil to any country that imposes a "stupid" price cap on Russian agreed by G7 nations. While the uncertainty surrounding European Union sanctions on Russian oil and the related price cap kept volatility high on prices, the sanctions had limited impact on global markets so far, ANZ analysts said in a note.

TC Energy shut the pipeline after the spill was discovered late last Wednesday. The 622,000 barrel-per-day Keystone line ships heavy Canadian crude from Alberta to refiners in the U.S. Midwest and the Gulf Coast. Prices for sour crude grades in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were strengthening on Monday, as the shutdown means more demand for heavier Gulf barrels. TC Energy said on Sunday that it has more than 250 people working on the leak, including third-party environmental specialists. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and pipeline regulator the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) are also on the scene.

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