Infrastructure | GlobalPost

Cars, people in water as I-5 bridge in Washington State collapses

Agence France-PresseMay 24, 2013 01:00

A bridge carrying the Interstate 5 highway 5 over a river in Washington state partially collapsed Thursday, sending cars and people plunging into the water below. "People and cars in water," Mark Francis, spokesman for the Washington State highway patrol, said on his Twitter feed. The police did not immediately return calls seeking more details, including on potential casualties.

Keystone makes TransCanada more cautious about future U.S. forays: executive

The Canadian PressMay 23, 2013 17:01

CALGARY - A senior TransCanada Corp. executive says the resistance to the approval of the proposed Keystone XL oilsands pipeline has made the company more cautious about future cross-border endeavours. Alex Pourbaix, president of energy and oil pipelines at the Calgary-based pipeline and utility company (TSX:TRP), said the long delays getting Keystone approved in the U.S. has been an education.

Republicans aim to take Keystone XL decision out of Obama's hands

The Canadian PressMay 22, 2013 17:00

WASHINGTON - The American political brawl over the approval of TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL pipeline shifted into overdrive on Wednesday as Republicans in the House of Representatives made yet another attempt to take the decision out of U.S. President Barack Obama's hands. Legislators voted 241-175 in favour of the Northern Route Approval Act, which would give Congress the power to greenlight the pipeline and nix the need for a presidential permit. The bill, however, faces a far less certain future in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate.

Canada's Harper pitches Keystone oil line in NY

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 22:30

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in New York Thursday promoting the Keystone XL pipeline, the $5.3 billion project that would move oil from the province of Alberta to the US heartland. Washington is expected to decide soon on the fate of TransCanada's proposal to build the 1,179-mile (1,897-kilometer) line to the US state of Nebraska, where it would connect with another pipeline to move the oil to refineries in Texas.

Canada PM defends tar sands pipeline plan, saying oil will come into U.S. anyway

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 16:48

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Canada's prime minister says a controversial oil pipeline from his country to the U.S. Gulf Coast "absolutely needs to go ahead" and warns that the oil will be transported through one way or the other. Stephen Harper spoke on the Keystone XL project during a visit to New York City on Thursday. The pipeline project carrying oil from Canada's tar sands would need approval from the U.S. State Department.

Canadian senator: Proposed pipeline has better chance of reality after Liberals' re-election

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 17:36

TORONTO - The re-election of British Columbia's Liberal government means a pipeline from Alberta to Canada's Pacific coast that would allow tankers to export oil to Asia now has a better chance of being built, a Canadian senator said Wednesday. British Columbia's Liberal party surprised pundits by winning Tuesday's election. The leftist New Democratic Party, which is against Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, had widely been expected to win.

British Columbia Liberals' shock win keeps pipeline afloat

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 11:45

British Columbia Liberals won an upset in the Canadian province's elections, officials said Wednesday, raising hopes for a pipeline from Canada's oil sands to the Pacific Coast for shipping to Asia. Premier Christy Clark, who has expressed tepid support for Enbridge's Northern Gateway project, was widely predicted to lose to the New Democrats, who fiercely opposed construction of the 1,177 kilometers (731 mile) pipeline. But preliminary election results show the Liberals won 50 out of 85 seats in the provincial legislature, versus 33 for the New Democrats.

N.W.T. industry minister touts 'made in the North' oil pipeline alternative

The Canadian PressMay 13, 2013 15:01

CALGARY - The Northwest Territories is promoting the idea of a "made-in-the-North" oil pipeline as a means to get Canadian crude to international markets, bypassing jurisdictions that have been less than keen on such developments. "Certainly the Northwest Territories is in a good location when it comes to the possible routing of the pipeline north," David Ramsay, the territory's industry minister, said in a recent interview.

Ontario plans $35 billion in infrastructure spending over three years

The Canadian PressMay 2, 2013 16:31

TORONTO - Ontario's minority Liberals used Thursday's budget to clearly signal their dedication to bolstering the province's infrastructure by allocating $35 billion in spending over three years, one of the largest commitments to a single element in their fiscal plan. The province aims to spend nearly $13.5 billion in 2013-2014 on building transit, highways, hospitals, post-secondary institutions and hospitals. "We will continue to make investments in modern infrastructure," Finance Minister Charles Sousa said in the legislature.

TransCanada says Keystone XL likely won't be operating until second half of 2015

The Canadian PressApril 29, 2013 16:02

CALGARY - TransCanada Corp. said Friday its controversial and long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline will take longer and cost more to bring into service than previously expected as it continues to await U.S. government approval. The company (TSX:TRP) had been sticking to its late 2014 or early 2015 start up target, but the longer the regulatory process dragged on, the more difficult achieving that target became. It is now looking at a late-2015 start-up for the pipeline, which would deliver 830,000 barrels per day from Alberta to U.S. markets, if and once it is built.