Canada added the proposed West Coast pipeline, running from Bruderheim, Alberta to a deep water terminal on BC's southwest coast, to its priority list for major projects. The line would carry about one million barrels per day of heavy crude and, together with a coastal loading facility, is estimated to cost between $35.2 billion and $43.7 billion. The federal fast-track also brings the Pathways carbon capture and storage project along with it. A Fraser Institute commentary by Kenneth P. Green argues the CCS side is not well understood. It cites a 2024 review of 16 carbon capture projects in which the best performer captured 78 percent of claimed emissions and the average was 47.6 percent. The study also points to environmental risks including induced seismic activity, groundwater and soil contamination, and potential CO2 leakage at storage sites. For anyone tracking carbon markets or CCS policy, the piece is a useful counterweight to the assumption that large scale carbon capture will offset oil export emissions. It does not settle the debate, but it highlights why measured performance and independent oversight should be part of any fast-track decision.
