Maine Governor Supports Canadian Crude Oil Pipeline

Governor Paul LePage is lending his support to TransCanada’s proposed west-east pipeline, saying Maine would welcome oil from western Canada.

The transportation of crude oil was a key issue as the New England governors and Eastern Canadian premiers wrapped up their annual meeting Monday in Quebec. If approved by regulators, the Energy East Pipeline would ship up to 1 million barrels of tar sands oil per day from Alberta to the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick by 2018.

LePage said he would prefer to see oil shipped by pipeline rather than rail cars, citing this summer's deadly train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. The tracks used to transport oil from western Canada  to New Brunswick pass through Maine.

New Brunswick Premier David Alward said he continues to try to convince Quebec Premier Pauline Marois of the merits of the pipeline development.

Source: Associated Press