Northwatch is calling it a good day.

This after TransCanada announced they’ve terminated their Energy East pipeline proposal.

There has been local support and opposition to the plan.

Northwatch’s Brennain Lloyd says the termination of the project is good news.

“It’s good news for northern Ontario, in terms of the environmental risk that we now won’t have subjected to us as a result of Energy East,” she says.

However, she says we do still face a risk from the transportation of oil through all methods.

“Really what we need to do is be moving off of a fossil based economy, moving towards local, decentralized, renewable energy sources,” she says.

Until that happens, Lloyd says there’s needs to be improved safety requirements for the transportation of any type of hazardous good.

“While we do have oil moving by train, there will be risk,” she says, adding there’s also a risk with the transportation of sulphuric acid to and from the mines, plus there’s the potential for nuclear waste being transported some years down the line.

The 4,500 km Energy East pipeline route would have traveled through the North Bay area.

In a release, TransCanada officials said after careful review of changed circumstances, they will be informing the National Energy Board that they are no longer be proceeding with the applications for Energy East Pipeline and Eastern Mainland Pipeline projects.

TransCanada says they’re thankful for the support of labour, business and manufacturing organizations, industry, various governments and municipalities and more.

 

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