https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-energy-regulator-explained/ Thu, 01 May 2025 18:31:23 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=136599 A guide to the BC Energy Regulator: what it is, what it does and why it matters Matt Simmons Explainer News B.C. climate change fracking LNG oil and gas Photo: Matt Simmons / The Narwhal Pipeline segments lie amongst the trees with a pickup truck next to them. https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-oil-and-gas-sites-serious-leaks/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=133657 Hydrogen sulphide, methane and potentially contaminated water leaks from natural gas wells in B.C. were all registered in an obscure government database Matt Simmons and Zak Vescera Investigation News B.C. climate change fracking oil and gas Photo: Amber Bracken / The Narwhal Gas well on farmland https://thenarwhal.ca/fracking-earthquakes-explainer/ Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:30:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=131979 The whole point of fracking is to cause tiny earthquakes that fracture rock and release oil or natural gas. But the process of injecting high-pressure fluids into the earth’s surface can sometimes cause quakes that are big enough for us to feel Sarah Cox Explainer B.C. fracking LNG oil and gas ranching Photo: Jonathan Hayward / The Canadian Press two workers in hard hats and coveralls walk near industrial pipes and natural gas infrastructure https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-ranchers-fracking-earthquakes-water/ Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=131803 Fifteen recent earthquakes in five days, linked to fracking, are having serious implications for ranchers — including livestock stress, premature births and water shortages Sarah Cox In-Depth B.C. fracking LNG oil and gas ranching Rancher Matt Hedges stands with his dog and pregnant cattle in the cold https://thenarwhal.ca/woodfibre-lng-missing-data-health-impacts/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:00:21 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=125591 As construction begins on the Woodfibre LNG facility in Squamish, B.C., residents are worried about air pollution and health impacts from flaring — the process of burning off excess gas. Missing environmental assessment data doesn’t quell their fears Shannon Waters News B.C. LNG foi fracking methane Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal. Flaring photo: The Canadian Press/AP-David Goldman A flare stack from a liquid natural gas production facility is superimposed over a blue-tinted photo of Squamish, B.C. https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-lng-frac-sand/ Mon, 24 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=110953 As B.C.’s LNG industry heats up, a company is proposing to mine silica sand — used in fracking — in B.C.’s interior forests. Here’s what you need to know Shannon Waters Explainer B.C. climate change fracking LNG Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal An artistic representation of sand mining equipment, including conveyor belts and silos, amid piles of sand. https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-prince-rupert-gas-transmission-construction/ Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:57:04 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=110128 Plans are underway for the Nisg̱a’a Nation to buy TC Energy’s 800-kilometre Prince Rupert Gas Transmission LNG pipeline, linking gas from northeast B.C. to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility. Construction is set to start this summer, on Nisg̱a’a lands Matt Simmons Explainer B.C. climate change Coastal GasLink pipeline fracking oil and gas Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline Photo: Marty Clemens / The Narwhal Aerial view of roads cutting through Nisga'a lava beds, with Nass River in the distance https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-fort-nelson-fire-may-2024/ Tue, 14 May 2024 22:39:22 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=106809 Holdover fires, extreme drought and the driest winter in half a century have set the stage for an early and aggressive start to B.C.’s wildfire season, with more than 4,000 people in the Fort Nelson area evacuated this week Matt Simmons News B.C. drought fracking LNG Wildfire Photo: BC Wildfire Service Parker Lake wildfire, near Fort Nelson, B.C. https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-renewable-wind-energy-buffer-zones/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:38:34 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=103110 The Alberta government has moved to ban new wind developments in large swaths of the province, citing their ‘visual impact’ on the landscape. The Narwhal looks at some of the other industries and activities that can continue Drew Anderson Explainer Alberta Alberta coal mining forestry fracking logging oil and gas ranching renewable energy Photo: Leah Hennel / The Narwhal Wind turbines in southern Alberta visible in a landscape with a river, forests and mountains https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-lng-major-projects/ Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:48:38 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=101792 As B.C. prepares to deliver on its promise to get gas out of northeast reserves and ship it to buyers overseas, the LNG sector is set to have huge impacts on northern ecosystems and communities Matt Simmons Explainer B.C. climate change Coastal GasLink pipeline fracking LNG LNG Canada natural gas Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline TC Energy Map: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal B.C. map showing two pipelines and three LNG facilities https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-lng-export-explainer/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=98320 As LNG Canada completes construction and prepares to bring operations online, the export facility could 'open a gateway' for other projects to proceed. But B.C.’s gas export sector faces stricter emissions policies, unpredictable market shifts and climate disasters as it tries to maintain its place in an uncertain future Matt Simmons Explainer News B.C. climate change Coastal GasLink pipeline fracking LNG natural gas TC Energy Photo: Marty Clemens / The Narwhal LNG Canada's liquefaction and export facility under construction in Kitimat, B.C., with razor wire fencing