Progress in Canada’s energy sector can often move at a glacial pace, but it finally feels like change is coming.

However, it’s going to take time.

Varcoe: In wake of energy pact with Ottawa, Smith touts 'single-greatest expansion of pipelines in decades' Back to video

One year ago, Premier Danielle Smith spoke at the annual Global Energy Show, touting the benefits of a “grand bargain” — advancing a proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast, if teamed up with a carbon capture project in the oilsands.

On Tuesday, at the opening day of the same event, both Smith and federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson highlighted the benefits of an energy accord between Ottawa and Alberta, and the progress that’s been made in recent months.

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The premier told the audience that new pipeline and energy infrastructure projects are “barrelling ahead” since a memorandum of understanding was initially inked in November, along with further details on carbon pricing added last month.

“This is the single-greatest expansion of pipelines in decades,” Smith told the energy conference.

The premier noted Enbridge is planning to optimize its Mainline pipeline network, adding up to 400,000 barrels per day of transportation capacity later this decade, increasing shipments of oil from Western Canada into the United States.

Trans Mountain Corp. is working on two projects to increase its system capacity by about 300,000 bpd, while South Bow is........

© Calgary Herald