Natural gas pipeline operator Spectra Energy Group (NYSE:SE) announced May 14 that it plans to spend an additional $6 billion in B.C. after 2015. The company is currently progressing on a $1.5 billion expansion program in B.C. that is slated to be complete by 2013.
Spectra's current spending is aimed at installing necessary infrastructure for B.C. to meet both domestic natural gas needs as well as to service markets across North America.
Recent expansion includes hiring 1,350 workers to construct two new natural gas processing facilities in northeastern B.C., associated natural gas gathering pipelines and further expansion of Spectra's natural gas transmission system in B.C.
"I'm pleased that we're aligned with the province of B.C.'s natural gas and LNG strategies and am confident that our shared interests in job growth and economic development activity will continue for many years," said Doug Bloom, Spectra's president of western Canadian operations.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark told reporters last week that she is prepared to tweak her government's climate-change targets to stimulate a liquefied natural gas industry in the province.
Clark is now in Japan on a trade mission that includes meetings with potential investors in a string of proposed LNG plants on British Columbia's north coast as well as buyers for that energy.
She hinted that any change to B.C.'s climate-change targets will not adversely impact the environment because shipping LNG to China will help wean that country off even dirtier fuels such as coal.
