The Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) wrapped up its five-phase presentation series “Oil and Gas – From start to finish” this past Wednesday. The series, which spanned more than two years, focused on various aspects of the oil and gas industry relevant to residents of the Lakeland, with the final installment focusing on pipelines and the marketing behind them.
From the beginning, the intention of the series was to educate and inform the public about developments and changes in the industry. Just under a year ago, LICA was presented with an award of excellence for the oil and gas series at the annual Synergy Alberta Conference in Red Deer.
The award aims to recognize special initiatives and programs that address the pressures and opportunities of energy and resource development in a community.
Not only did LICA seek to inform the public about industry with this series, but the association also made special efforts to present topics that are current and relevant to residents, helped in part by LICA's ability to bring in speakers well-versed in the topic at hand.
This past Wednesday's event at the Bonnyville Seniors Drop-In Centre was timely, as several pipeline projects are underway in the Lakeland. Cathy Hay, director of research and special projects with the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), spoke to an audience of over 50 people regarding pipelines within the current context of the oil and gas industry. She also discussed the various challenges and opportunities facing the pipeline industry.
She said public opinion of pipelines and the oil and gas industry has changed over the past five years, following BP's oil spill off the gulf coast in April 2010 and Enbridge's spill in the Kalamazoo River later that year.
“The public no longer has confidence in regulators and industry oversight. This presents a challenge for the pipeline industry,” Hay explained. “Industry is facing unprecedented public and stakeholder interest, but also resistance and mistrust. The response from industry and particularly the pipeline industry is to be open, honest and transparent about our operations and incidents.”
She said pipelines are among the “safest and most environmentally sound way of transporting large volumes over land” and pointed to CEPA's Integrity First Program, which is working to regain the public's trust in pipelines through a marketing campaign about pipelines and the oil and gas industry.
Including gathering, feeder, transmission and distribution pipes, there are now more 800,000 kilometres of energy pipelines in Canada and growing. She said over 50 per cent of those lines are in Alberta and that number is also growing.
Although pipelines are being built throughout the province, she noted three proposed pipeline projects that are facing intense public scrutiny.
She said the public's perception of pipelines is hurting the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport oil to the gulf coast, the Northern Gateway Pipeline, which would transport oil to Canada's west coast and TransCanada's Energy East Pipeline, which would carry oil towards Canada's east coast.
Hay said pipelines are imperative to the growth of Canada's oil industry, noting that in order for industry to continue to grow, new markets including Asia and Eastern Canada must be opened up.
“Without pipelines, product will be stranded,” Hay explained. “If product can't get to market, production will be stalled.”
Those in attendance did have a chance for questions following the presentation. Local resident Marsha Hayward asked whether the marketing campaign would address some of the public's concerns regarding the cumulative effects oil and gas development and pipelines will have on people and the environment, rather than focusing solely on the economic benefits of pipelines for industry and the public.
Hay said this campaign would not directly address those concerns, but the association is looking at building on the Integrity First campaign, and said anyone with technical questions regarding pipelines can contact CEPA directly.
