British Columbia Environment Minister Mary Polak pauses while responding to the Northern Gateway decision in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday June 17, 2014. Polak is set to introduce environmental rules governing the development of liquefied natural gas in British Columbia.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
October 20, 2014 - 4:31 PM
VICTORIA - Environment Minister Mary Polak is set to introduce environmental rules governing the development of liquefied natural gas in British Columbia.
The Liberal government has consistently promised to develop the cleanest LNG in the world despite concerns from environmental groups about increased greenhouse gas emissions associated with extracting and burning natural gas.
There are more than a dozen proposed LNG export plants and the owners say the facilities will operate primarily on natural gas, which produces greenhouse gas emissions.
Premier Christy Clark downplays the gas emissions, calling the proposed industry a worldwide pollution fighter because it will replace dirty coal with cleaner-burning natural gas in Asian countries, especially China.
She says she still expects B.C. to meet its legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets, which call for emission reductions of one-third within the next six years.
The B.C. government is also expected to introduce legislation outlining its plans to tax LNG companies operating in B.C. on Tuesday.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014