Hoberg’s Media (MSM and not) Guide to Western Canadian Energy/Environment Policy

Hoberg’s Media (MSM and not) Guide to Western Canadian Energy/Environment Policy

George Hoberg
January 2, 2012

This guide is intended for the students in my energy policy classes but I wanted to make it more widely available. The core focus of these courses is on sustainable energy policy in Western Canada but includes larger geopolitical factors. We have a particular interest in the oil sands and associated pipelines, electricity policy in BC, clean energy policy more generally, and climate policy.

Mainstream Media

The single best source for oil sands news and broader Canadian energy policy developments is the business section of the Globe and Mail.

The Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal also provide good coverage to oil sands issues, and share reporting resources with the Vancouver Sun through its parent corporation Postmedia.

The Vancouver Sun has good coverage of BC energy issues in its business section and elsewhere, and columnist Vaughn Palmer is very insightful on energy issues and BC politics more generally.

Here’s the core list of folks that @ghoberg follows and why.

Social Media Alberta Focus

@Andrew_Leach Insightful Alberta biz school prof, economist, closely follows oil sands and climate issues. Always eager for a good-natured argument.

@pembina Updates from a leading Canadian environmental group focusing on oil sands and climate.

@DSandGovAB Alberta government’s social media hall monitor, keeps British Columbians honest.

@NorthernGateway Enbridge’s social media presence is significant

@poneilinOttawa Peter O’Neil – Postmedia Ottawa reporter

@rpenty Business reporter Calgary Herald

@CarrieTait Business reporter Globe and Mail

Social Media BC Focus

@DerrickPenner Business reporter for Vancouver Sun, follows BC Hydro and pipeline issues

@GordonHoekstra1 Reporter for Vancouver Sun

@bchydro

@cleanenergybc Trade association for independent power producers

@MarcLeeCCPA enery-climate guy for Vancouver office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

@WCELaw West Coast Environmental Law, some focus on energy /climate

Social Media: US or Global Focus

@drgrist David Roberts —  Prolific blogger for Grist.org. The original climate hawk.

@Levi_m Michael Levi – energy and climate guy at Council of Foreign Relations

@bryanrwalsh Time magazine’s environment/energy blogger

@revkin Andrew Revkin – Leading climate/energy blogger for the New York Times.

@350 Global climate action group

@BillMcKibben Leading climate activist, founder of 350.org