Energy East pipeline on hold

TransCanada Pipelines has asked the federal government to stop its review of its proposal to reverse the flow in its oil pipeline from the Atlantic through to Ontario.

The Energy East pipeline proposal would cost the company about $15.7 billion.

There have been many opponents, most of them along the pipeline route which flows through Ontario’s prime farmlands.

TransCanada’s surprise announcement comes after the government added another factor to reviews of pipeline proposals – their impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

It also comes after the Trump administration granted approval for the XL pipeline to refineries along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana.

In both cases – XL and Energy East – much of the gasoline that would be refined from the oilsands oil would be exported.