DeSmogCAST 10: California Fracking Waste, Keystone Climate Impacts and Energy East Pipeline

onFeb 7, 2015 @ 11:14 PST

In this episode of DeSmogCAST our team discusses an ongoing investigation into hundreds of aquifers in California that may have been contaminated with fracking waste.

We also discuss a letter submitted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the State Department which gives new weight to concerns the proposed $8 billion Keystone XL pipeline, destined to carry crude from the Alberta oilsands to export facilities along the Gulf of Mexico, will have significant climate impacts.

Finally we discuss the Energy East pipeline, a massive project currently proposed by TransCanada, the same company behind Keystone.

See below for articles mentioned in this episode:

California Regulators Allowed Oil Industry To Drill Hundreds Of Wastewater Injection Wells Into Aquifers With Drinkable Water

California Orders Emergency Shutdown Of Fracking Wastewater Injection Sites Over Fears of Contaminated Aquifers

Low Oil Prices, High Oilsands Emissions Should Influence Keystone XL Decision: EPA

TransCanada’s Proposed Energy East Pipeline Is Clearly An Export Pipeline Says Report

Groups Argue Flawed Assumptions in Energy East Report Behind “Modest” Climate Impacts of Pipeline

By Carol Linnitt

Q&A: This Comedy Series Is Taking Aim at Big Oil’s PR Machine

ByEllen Ormesher

onSep 14, 2026 @ 11:01 PDT

SLICK is a funny yet cutting satire of how the ad industry contributes to the climate crisis.

Series: Holding the Advertising and Public Relations Industry Accountable for Greenwash and Climate Misinformation

Series: Advertising & PR Industry

Analysis

Majority of Planned Alberta Data Centre Projects Could be Under Foreign Control

ByMitch Anderson

onSep 14, 2026 @ 07:05 PDT

DeSmog analysis finds less than one third of planned projects could have full Canadian control over data.

Carbon Capture Is Booming. So Is the Push to Shift Oversight to States

BySarah Hofmann

onSep 11, 2026 @ 10:36 PDT

As hundreds of CO2 storage wells move toward development, the EPA is handing more regulatory authority to states — despite concerns about safety and long-term liability.