Strait Chokepoints and Alberta Grids Strain Energy Markets
July 21, 2026
From the Red Sea blockades and Persian Gulf maritime embargoes threatening global oil security to Alberta electricity markets facing a tripling of power prices from data center expansion, industrial energy systems are buckling under geopolitical conflict and infrastructure strain. Meanwhile, Canadian taxpayers face mounting financial exposure for unproven carbon capture megaprojects while remote communities like Attawapiskat fight legacy diesel contamination in court.
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For decades, Attawapiskat First Nation has endured diesel contamination. Now it’s taking Canada and Ontario to court
‘There comes a time when you say enough is enough’: First Nation files lawsuit over contamination at the core of the community
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IEA chief warns Strait of Hormuz crisis threatens global energy security
Fatih Birol says 'oil security is still a critical issue' and world should be 'worried' if situation does not improve.
- geopolitics
- structural power
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Why new Houthi threats in the Red Sea could spell trouble for global oil prices and inflation
Anton Petrus/Getty On Monday, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced they would impose a “maritime embargo” on Saudi Arabia, in what could mark a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The Houthis have indicated they plan to target Saudi Arabian ve…
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Soon, there will be so much electricity you might be paid to use it
Simon Collins / shutterstock Imagine a perfect summer weekend day: a cloudless blue sky with a gentle breeze. Solar panels are at full capacity, wind turbines are turning offshore – and many people are out and about, in gardens or parks. Electricity supply is high, but demand is low. Electricity sys…
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Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres
In Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival company TransAlta is predicting as high as $100 — a high not seen since the province's 2021-2023 energy…
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Canada’s promises to capture carbon span almost 20 years, with little gains
Stephen Harper swore by it; Mark Carney is ready to invest taxpayer dollars in it. A Narwhal investigation reveals how Canadian politicians have bought into an unproven technology they tout as a climate fix
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How to unlock unlimited geothermal energy, anywhere we want
Earth contains more than enough heat to power humanity many times over, but so far only a few lucky places have been able to exploit it. Now we may have a way to tap this vast clean energy source almost anywhere
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LNG Canada’s Acid Gas-Burning Incinerator Keeps Failing
A key tool for protecting Kitimat’s environment and humans has frequently malfunctioned, leaving it unusable for months on end.
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Global oil demand falls for the first time since COVID
The International Energy Agency expects demand to rebound in 2027, but analysts question whether the Iran war could hasten a long-term decline.
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Grazing for the grid
From grass-eating sheep to growing wildflowers amid rows of solar panels, this installation of our series, "Power Forward," meets the innovators proving that solar and agriculture can productively co-exist.
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Uncertainty clouds the cost and financing of oil companies' carbon capture projects
Le Devoir asked the Privy Council Office, which works directly with Prime Minister Mark Carney, to specify the project's cost, identify who will pay for it, and explain how the financial burden will be shared among the partners. Its response was light on details, but said, "Additional information on…
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Taxpayers could be paying double for Pathways carbon capture project
Canadians already funding the majority of the cost of building the Pathways project, the world’s biggest CCS complex, could also be stuck with higher fuel prices under a plan to help absorb the megaproject’s operating costs.