Category: 3. Business

A former Alberta energy minister says a proposed bitumen pipeline to the northwest B.C. coast is unlikely to materialize if Canada relies on the private sector alone to build it.

“I would say it’s not just diminishing, the likelihood of a private sector proponent … I would almost say it is zero at this point,” Sonya Savage said on CBC’s West of Centre podcast.

The former United Conservative minister’s caution comes as Premier Danielle Smith argued that Ottawa act with new urgency to green-light that pipeline, highlighting the U.S. capture of Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro and prospect of increased oil development in that country as a new reason.

On Friday, Smith shared on social media a letter written to Prime Minister Mark Carney after meeting with him to discuss what’s happening in Venezuela, whose heavy oil exports are similar to what the Alberta oilsands produce.

In it, she says Alberta intends to submit its application for a pipeline to the Major Projects Office by June — and she asked that it gets approved by this fall.

“Any delay risks ceding market share, losing investment, and undermining Canada’s competitive position in a rapidly changing global energy landscape,” Smith writes in the letter.

She also asked for regulatory approvals for all nation-building projects to be completed within six months. Carney’s major projects office, established last year, currently aims to complete regulatory reviews within two years.

Smith’s letter calls that timeline “woefully long.”

In November, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a new bitumen pipeline. While Alberta intends to apply as the lead proponent, the agreement stresses that the project would be privately constructed and financed.

After the MOU was signed, industry watchers told CBC News that pipeline companies might want a financial commitment from Alberta or Ottawa to backstop cost overruns that are outside of a company’s control.

Savage said that is not a new concept for Canada.

“The TransCanada mainline gas line in the 1950s would not have been built without federal government intervention. They set up a Crown corporation, they backstopped it. Enbridge’s Line 9 in the 1970s would not have been built without a federal government backstop.”

Though Alberta and Ottawa have referred to the northwest coast oil pipeline as “nation-building” infrastructure, that sentiment is not uniformly shared amongst Canada’s leaders.

Earlier this week, B.C. Premier David Eby said if tax dollars are being considered, Canada should instead consider building a new oil refinery rather than a pipeline to the province’s north coast.

“If we’ve got tens of billions of dollars to spend, I think we should spend it on a refinery and we should develop oil products for Canadians and for export, instead of being reliant on American and Chinese refineries to do it for us,” Eby said at a news conference Tuesday.

Savage said the economics of it do not make sense. Once refined, there would still need to be a way to get the oil to the coast, and then shipped to other markets.

“He’s either energy illiterate, or he’s trying to distract,” she said. “At this point, I think he should just back out of the conversation.”

The Canadian Press reached out to Carney’s office, but no one wasn’t immediately able to comment on Smith’s calls for quicker project approvals.

Regarding Smith’s concerns about the competitiveness of Canadian oil, the Prime Minister’s Office pointed to comments he made earlier this week in France.

Carney told reporters in Paris on Tuesday that he thought Canada’s oil would remain competitive because it is low-risk and low-cost.

Canadian energy stocks tumbled after the Venezuela upheaval. Oil prices have been on a downward trend since the start of last year.

With files from Jennifer Keiller and the Canadian Press

Stellantis says it will phase out plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) programs in North America beginning with the 2026 model year.

The decision to end production of the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Pacifica is in response to “customer demand shifting,” according to a spokesperson for the automaker.

Stellantis will “focus on more competitive electrified solutions, including hybrid and range‑extended vehicles where they best meet customer needs,” LouAnn Gosselin said in an emailed statement to CBC Windsor.

“This approach reinforces the company’s commitment to offering advanced propulsion systems that maximize efficiency and provide options from internal combustion to hybrid, range‑extended, and fully electric solutions.”

PHEVs feature traditional internal combustion engines, but also have an all-electric range when charged like an electric vehicle.

The Stellantis announcement comes weeks after the release of its 2025 numbers that show Canadian sales of the Chrysler Pacifica and Grand Caravan rose significantly compared to 2024.

Sales of the Caravan jumped 30 per cent on a yearly basis, while Pacifica sales soared 95 per cent, driving “impressive” overall growth for the Chrysler brand, the company said.

The demand for minivans from the Windsor plant is fairly steady.– Sam Fiorani, auto industry expert

One automotive industry expert believes the change in emissions regulations by the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump played a major role in the decision by Stellantis.

Trump has proposed slashing fuel economy standards that then President Joe Biden had finalized in 2024, in a push to make it easier for automakers to sell gasoline-powered cars.

Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, said the fact manufacturers no longer have to pay for overages on their carbon output means companies like Stellantis don’t have to build plug-in hybrids.

No significant impact on Windsor, says expert

But Fiorani is of the opinion that Stellantis phasing out its plug‑in hybrid programs will have little to no impact on jobs at its Windsor plant.

“The demand for minivans from the Windsor plant is fairly steady. There are only a couple players in this field. It’s only Honda, Toyota, Kia and Chrysler, so Stellantis is likely to build the same number of vehicles,” he told CBC News. 

“They only built 8,800 plug-in hybrids last year, and that part of the capacity of that plant will very likely just build a standard Pacifica going forward.

“I don’t think the elimination of the PHEV version of the Pacifica [will] lower the output of the plant [by] any significant amount,” added Fiorani.

Delayed payoff on battery plant

Fiorani said while there is a general push toward electric vehicles, Windsor will likely see a delayed payoff on its NextStar Energy battery plant.

“We are going to see more EVs, we are going to see more hybrids over the next decade and two, but it’s just not going to happen as quickly as the Biden administration had wanted it to happen,” he said.

“Countries around the world were looking for fully electric vehicles across their whole fleet by 2035. That was never going to happen, but now whatever the …  target was going to be has now been pushed out, so we’re going to see electrification stretch out into the 2040s.”

In December, Stellantis said it expects to hire up to 1,500 people for an additional manufacturing shift in Windsor by the time it launches in “early 2026.”

“Today’s announcement reinforces Canada’s critical role in Stellantis’s global operations,” Trevor Longley, president and CEO of Stellantis Canada, said in a Dec. 15 statement.

“As we lead the future of advanced automotive production, we’re thrilled to see our new Windsor Assembly Plant team hitting the ground running.”

Darren delivered the following remarks at the White House:

---

Thank you, Mr. President, I appreciate the invitation and the opportunity for the entire industry to show up and provide perspective.

Frankly, we’ve been kind of unresponsive to the press regarding Venezuela. I guess today’s the opportunity to address the press directly with respect to a number of questions that have been asked of ExxonMobil. First and foremost, obviously, is the interest that we have in Venezuela. I think one of the reasons why we see many industry players here is we’re in a depletion business for a product that is in great demand and will be in demand for many, many, many decades to come.

And as a depletion business, the biggest challenge we have is finding resources. There’s an opportunity in Venezuela with all the resources there. We don’t have that challenge of finding; we have the challenge of developing those resources. So I think it’s in the best interest of these companies and, frankly, society as a whole for the industry to be interested in understanding what the opportunity here represents.

I’ll just share a philosophy that ExxonMobil has when we enter countries—because we do business all around the world, in a number of different regimes—we take a very long‑term perspective. The investments that we make span decades and decades. So, we do not go into any opportunity with a short-term mindset.

There’s a value proposition that we have to meet. It has to be a win‑win‑win proposition. Obviously, it has to be a win for the company and our shareholders, generating a return for the investments that we make. It has to be a win for the government. The resources are an important source of revenue that help support the people of the places that we do business. And it has to be a win for the people. We have to be wanted there— and to be a good neighbor. And those three things ensure a stable, long‑term platform for the large investments that we make for the long term.

With respect to Venezuela in particular, we have a very long history in Venezuela. In fact, we first got into Venezuela back in the 1940s. We’ve had our assets seized there twice. And so, you can imagine to re‑enter a third time would require some pretty significant changes from what we’ve historically seen here and what is currently the state.

If we look at the legal and commercial constructs—frameworks—in place today in Venezuela, today it’s uninvestable. And so significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system, there has to be durable investment protections, and there has to be a change to the hydrocarbon laws in the country.

We’re confident that with this Administration and President Trump working hand‑in‑hand with the Venezuelan government that those changes can be put in place. And with respect to the Venezuelan government—that perspective—we don’t have a view on. We haven’t talked to the Venezuelan government, and obviously we have yet to assess the people’s perspective with respect to ExxonMobil entering the country.

In the short term, there are things that can be done while these longer‑term issues are being worked. For us, we haven’t been in the country for almost 20 years. We think it’s absolutely critical in the short term that we get a technical team in place to assess the current state of the industry and the assets to understand what would be involved to help the people of Venezuela get production back on the market.

With the invitation of the Venezuelan government and with appropriate security guarantees, we are ready to put a team on the ground there. We also have an integrated set of capabilities—from production to refining to trading—and I think we can be of assistance to getting Venezuelan crude to market and realizing market price to help again with the financial situation in Venezuela.

So that’s the short‑term perspective that I have. Thank you, Mr. President, for the work that you’ve done to secure not only the national security, but the energy security of the region. And thank you Secretary Rubio, Secretary Wright, Secretary Burgum, for your leadership in this matter. Thank you.

JACKSON, Mississippi – As winter brings bouts of colder temperatures, customers will begin using their heating systems more and this could lead to an increase in electricity usage. However, staying warm and comfortable does not have to come at the cost of high electric bills. By making a few simple changes around your home, you can improve its energy efficiency and keep costs down throughout the colder months.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, home heating and cooling costs can make up more than 52% of an average customer’s electric bill. In some cases, poor insulation, air leaks and inefficient HVAC systems can lead to even greater energy costs each year. To keep your home warm without significantly raising the thermostat and save money on your bill at the same time, try these low-to-no-costs tips.

Improving energy efficiency with low-to-no-cost tips

• Use solar energy: Open curtains on the south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• Insulate drafty windows: Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of window frames and make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
• Adjust the thermostat: When you are home and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable, but when you are asleep or out of the house, turn the thermostat back to save on your heating and cooling bills.
• Find and seal leaks: Seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
• Maintain heating systems: Schedule routine service for home heating systems and replace furnace and heat pump filters once a month or as needed.
• Reduce heat loss from the fireplace: Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning and check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.

By following these simple steps, you can stay warm and comfortable all winter long while keeping your bills under control. We also offer free comprehensive residential energy audits and rebates to help reduce the upfront cost of installing energy-efficient equipment.

Exploring resources through Bill Toolkit

To make sure customers have quick access to energy efficiency, bill management and financial assistance resources, Entergy created an online platform called Bill Toolkit. The platform consolidates helpful resources for customers interested in exploring ways to lower their electric use and costs and learn more about different payment options the company offers. It also provides information on our energy efficiency programs and incentives and rebates associated with these programs.

Tracking energy use through myAdvisor

Entergy customers can set electric usage alerts and monitor how much energy they use each day through bill management tools like myAdvisor, which is available through their myEntergy account online. Tracking usage over time can help customers identify trends that contribute to higher usage and budget their monthly expenses. With the myAdvisor dashboard, customers have access to not only usage and cost details, but also bill history and projections, analyzer tools and more. On the Entergy mobile app this information can be found by tapping the “usage” tab.

Managing bills through payment and assistance options

Entergy offers several flexible payment options so customers can choose when, where and how they receive their bills.

• Pick-A-Date allows customers to pay their bills when it works best for them.
• Level Billing allows customers to “level out” seasonal energy use fluctuations, making their bills more consistent every month.
• PaperFREE billing allows customers to get their bills emailed as soon as they post and instant access to two years of billing history.
• AutoPay allows customers to avoid late fees, writing checks and paying for postage by having bills automatically deduct from their bank accounts.

We also offer flexible payment options such as deferred payment arrangements or payment extensions. Customers can find out if they qualify for these options through our mobile app or myEntergy online.

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi provides electricity to approximately 459,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We’re also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at EntergyMississippi.com and connect with @EntergyMS on social media.

Media inquiries:
[email protected]

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to an online plans display regarding the Route 17 (Raccoon Valley Road) bridge replacement project over Raccoon Creek in Tuscarora Township, Perry County, approximately eight miles southwest of Millerstown.

The purpose of this project is to replace the existing bridge and provide continued safe and efficient crossing of Route 17 over Raccoon Creek.

The existing single span reinforced concrete slab bridge was built in 1930.

The project involves the replacement of the single span reinforced concrete slab bridge with a precast reinforced concrete box culvert. In addition to the replacement of the stream crossing, minor approach roadway reconstruction, along with guide rail, pavement marking and signing updates will also be completed as part of the project. A temporary stream diversion (cofferdam setup) will be required. The proposed roadway shoulder to shoulder width will provide two 11-foot lanes and 6-foot shoulders.

This section of Raccoon Valley Road has an average daily traffic volume of 871 vehicles per day (vpd).

The bridge will be closed to all traffic for approximately six months during construction. The detour will be approximately 17 miles using Veterans Way, Waggoners Gap Road, Buffalo Trace Road, Buckwheat Road, and Creek Road.

Overhead utilities are present at the site and de-energization, or temporary relocation may be required to place the precast concrete box culverts sections.

The project is currently in design, and construction work is anticipated to begin in Spring 2028 and last approximately six months.

A digital version of the project plans and information are available to view online with public comments accepted through February 12, 2026.

Information, including bridge plans and an interactive comment form, can be found by visiting the PennDOT District 8 website, PennDOT District 8, clicking Projects Near You listed on the left side of the page, then the District 8 Projects, and choosing Racoon Valley Road Bridge over Raccoon Creek.

The purpose of the plans display is to introduce the project and receive public input regarding any questions or concerns with the project. It is also an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the project.

Also available for viewing and public comment is the plans display for the nearby Raccoon Valley Road Bridge over Unnamed Tributary of Raccoon Creek bridge rehabilitation project.

The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services or have special needs or have special concerns that require individual attention, please contact Gail Farley, Project Manager at (717) 885-9662 or c-gaifarle@pa.gov.

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891 or 800-468-4201.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict8. 

Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT: Dave Thompson, 717-418-5018, or at dmthompson@pa.gov

###

Please refer to the project location map below: