B.C. government announces study on impact of liquefied natural gas emissions

KITIMAT, B.C. – The B.C. government says it will fund a $650,000-study to look at the environmental and health impacts of liquefied natural gas emissions in the northwestern city of Kitimat, where three LNG terminals have been proposed.

A government news release says the study will assess sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions from an existing aluminium smelter, the proposed LNG terminals, a proposed oil refinery, a crude-oil export facility, and gas-turbine-powered electrical generation facilities.

A contractor will also collect surface water and soil samples for analysis.

Premier Christy Clark has pledged to develop the world’s cleanest LNG, an industry that she has touted will represent a trillion-dollar economic opportunity and will create 100,000 jobs for British Columbians.

Last month, Clean Energy Canada, an affiliate of Tides Canada, issued a report that warned natural gas-fuelled LNG operations in B.C. could emit more than three-times the carbon emissions produced at other plants around the world.

A candidate to conduct the study has yet to be selected, and the government says the study is not expected to be completed until spring 2014.