Latest news with #DeHann
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada's wildfires may impact gas prices: here's how
As the Canadian wildfires continue to rage, some oil production in the country, a U.S. supplier, has been forced to shut down, raising concerns national gas prices may rise. Around 95 fires were out of control in Canada on Monday afternoon, with more than half burning in the province of Alberta, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Bloomberg reports the fires in Alberta have shut down nearly 350,000 barrels of daily heavy crude oil production, roughly 7 percent of Canada's oil output. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told The Independent that if the oil production shutdown continues, 'it could be a bit more problematic to [U.S.] refineries and it could be more impactful to things like gasoline.' Canada is the fourth-largest oil producer in the world and a major supplier to the U.S. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a major trade association, said in a blog post from January that 25 percent of crude oil in U.S. refineries comes from Canada. Refineries need heavy crude oil to run and make petroleum products such as gasoline. The trade association said in another blog post, 'Nearly 70% of U.S. refining capacity runs most efficiently with heavier crude.' De Haan told MarketWatch in March, 'Canada's oil has always been there, and it's always been there at a discount.' The fires have displaced thousands and are causing air quality alerts in several U.S. states. The wildfires have now threatened the country's oil output, potentially affecting the national average gas price, which currently stands at $3.09 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. Cenovus Energy Inc., a Canadian oil producer, shut down output on May 29, according to Bloomberg. It said Sunday that it expects to resume operations in the 'near term.' Two other Canadian oil producers, MEG Energy Corp. and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., have also temporarily ceased operations. De Hann explained in a phone interview with The Independent on Monday that much of the crude oil in U.S. refineries in the Midwest and Rocky Mountains comes from Canada. ' So, a shutdown in the flow of oil, or at least a partial shutdown in the flow of oil from Canada, could be impactful to refineries down in these regions,' he said. De Hann said refineries usually have at least several days of crude oil stored, 'but if this hit to Canadian oil production continues for potentially more than a week or two, and/or if it worsens in terms of the amount of oil shut in, it could be a bit more problematic to these refineries and it could be more impactful to things like gasoline.' ' I don't really see any impact to prices, but we will have to see,' the expert added. De Hann warned since there's less Canadian oil available, 'it's likely narrowing the Canadian crude oil discount that generally we see, but that's not really going to be too impactful to motorists.' The U.S. still makes 60 percent of its crude oil, according to American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, and it gets the other 17 percent of its oil from other countries. There were 189 active fires in Canada as of Monday afternoon, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Most are in British Columbia and Alberta. The fires have burned through roughly 1.7 million acres across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, The New York Times reported, citing the center. Two people were killed in a wildfire that burned through a small Manitoba town, the Times reported. CBS reported on Sunday that more than 25,000 residents have been evacuated over the fires and smoke was worsening air quality in Canada. The fires have also caused air quality alerts in Minnesota, Michigan and South Carolina, which remained in place Monday, per NBC News. Pollutants can cause health risks, especially for those with a respiratory disease such as asthma.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Prize winner has an eye for finding lost species
Lily-Arison René de Roland, a conservationist with a knack for finding elusive species, is the tenth winner of the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation. After considering 44 nominees and six finalists, the Indianapolis Zoological Society awarded René de Roland the prestigious award in New York City on Tuesday. He will receive a $250,000 grant for his conservation work in Madagascar. 'Dr. René de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflicts — they have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems,' Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, said in a statement. 'He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner.' René de Roland has been working to protect biodiversity in Madagascar for over 30 years. He has helped establish wetland and reforestation projects, create national protected areas, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and mentor young conservationists across the country. 'I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo,' René de Roland said in a statement. 'My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people.' Based in the city of Antananarivo, René de Roland's work has taken him and his colleagues far across the Madagascar wilderness. He's scrambled up steep mountainsides and passed through dense undergrowth, searching for creatures that scientists thought were lost to time. During an expedition to a remote northern region of the country in 2006, René de Roland and his team spotted a bird that researchers thought was extinct: the Madagascar pochard, a brown and white duck endemic to Madagascar. The discovery led to a captive breeding initiative. In 2018, the program released 21 young ducks back into the wild. René de Roland, who also found a long-lost songbird and contributed to the discovered of two previously undescribed lemur species, even had a wolf spider (Katableps lilyarisoni) named after him in honor of his contributions to biodiversity conservation. René de Roland said that his focus after winning the prize will be to continue his work bridging local communities with wetland and reforestation programs in Madagascar. He isn't new to this kind of work. René de Roland has been working with fishing communities inside Madagascar's rainforests to preserve their local ecosystems. He said fisherman often use big trees to make canoes, but the boats only last for a couple of years. By providing them with fiberglass canoes, René de Roland estimates that they have saved about 2,000 big trees from being cut down across the rainforest. René de Roland, the five DeHann finalists and the Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27 in downtown Indianapolis. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Sophie Hartley is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach her at or on X at @sophienhartley. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Madagascar's Lily-Arison René de Roland wins Indianapolis Prize
Indianapolis Star
15-05-2025
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis Prize winner has an eye for finding lost species
Lily-Arison René de Roland, a conservationist with a knack for finding elusive species, is the tenth winner of the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation. After considering 44 nominees and six finalists, the Indianapolis Zoological Society awarded René de Roland the prestigious award in New York City on Tuesday. He will receive a $250,000 grant for his conservation work in Madagascar. 'Dr. René de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflicts — they have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems,' Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, said in a statement. 'He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner.' René de Roland has been working to protect biodiversity in Madagascar for over 30 years. He has helped establish wetland and reforestation projects, create national protected areas, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and mentor young conservationists across the country. 'I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo,' René de Roland said in a statement. 'My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people.' Based in the city of Antananarivo, René de Roland's work has taken him and his colleagues far across the Madagascar wilderness. He's scrambled up steep mountainsides and passed through dense undergrowth, searching for creatures that scientists thought were lost to time. During an expedition to a remote northern region of the country in 2006, René de Roland and his team spotted a bird that researchers thought was extinct: the Madagascar pochard, a brown and white duck endemic to Madagascar. The discovery led to a captive breeding initiative. In 2018, the program released 21 young ducks back into the wild. René de Roland, who also found a long-lost songbird and contributed to the discovered of two previously undescribed lemur species, even had a wolf spider (Katableps lilyarisoni) named after him in honor of his contributions to biodiversity conservation. René de Roland said that his focus after winning the prize will be to continue his work bridging local communities with wetland and reforestation programs in Madagascar. He isn't new to this kind of work. René de Roland has been working with fishing communities inside Madagascar's rainforests to preserve their local ecosystems. He said fisherman often use big trees to make canoes, but the boats only last for a couple of years. By providing them with fiberglass canoes, René de Roland estimates that they have saved about 2,000 big trees from being cut down across the rainforest. René de Roland, the five DeHann finalists and the Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27 in downtown Indianapolis. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
