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British Columbians have been hearing a lot about liquefied natural gas (LNG) recently. Residents are told about the potential economic benefits, but there are critical questions that need to be addressed regarding the environmental and social impacts of the industry, and there is increasing concern about hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”).

The myriad of proposals would see natural gas fracked in Northeast BC and piped across the province to facilities on the coast in Kitimat and the Prince Rupert region. Once there, large amounts of energy would be used to cool the gas to minus 162 degrees Celsius, at this extremely low temperature it condenses to a liquid, making the gas much more efficient for transport.

The current gold rush mentality to export LNG is motivated by a price differential. In Asia, natural gas is currently selling at four times North American prices. Some British Columbians see this as an incredible opportunity for BC, but there is reason to question the stability of natural gas markets.

While LNG presents economic benefits to some communities, there are important social and environmental factors that also need to be considered.


Community

LNG in Northern BC would offer benefits and present some challenges to local communities. Residents in the region should be fully aware of these changes--both positive and negative.

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Health & Air Quality

Pollution and reduced air quality are central concerns with introducing LNG terminals to the coast. Fracking in Northeast BC poses significant health impacts that need to be acknowledged and addressed when considering expanding the LNG industry in BC.

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Environment

There are a growing number of questions and concerns about the environmental impacts of fracking for unconventional gas. Many of these concerns are based on experiences with fracking in Eastern Canada, in the United States, and Europe.

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Economy

The provincial government is promising British Columbians significant economic incentives, but questions about taxation, revenue, and global market uncertainty remain unanswered.

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Cumulative Impacts

There are almost a dozen LNG projects proposed in Northern BC, each requiring a liquefaction facility on the coast, pipeline from the Peace region, and thousands of new gas wells in Northeast BC. To date, each project is being considered in isolation.

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