CALGARY — The Alberta government on Tuesday called attention to a new report from a federal advisory committee, calling it evidence that Ottawa should abandon its “reckless” clean electricity targets for 2035.
The chair of the committee behind the report, however, said its recommendations were intended to tone down the political rhetoric around clean energy and help Ottawa and the provinces find common ground.
At the request of the federal government, the Canadian Electricity Advisory Council – a group made up of industry and Indigenous leaders – released a report Monday with suggestions on how Ottawa can achieve its goal of decarbonizing the country’s electricity network.
The federal government, in its proposed clean electricity regulations released earlier this year, set the year 2035 as a target to bring the country’s power producers to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Alberta and Saskatchewan, which have limited access to clean hydropower and still rely heavily on natural gas for electricity generation, have both said that date is unattainable.
Although Alberta has seen a rapid expansion of wind and solar power in recent years, the province says the intermittent nature of renewable generation means natural gas is still needed to ensure a reliable electricity supply and affordable.
While there are options to reduce emissions from natural gas power generation, such as carbon capture and storage, Alberta has indicated it will take time to deploy them.
Instead, the province said it would strive to achieve a net-zero emissions network by 2050.
A “major” challenge in Alberta and Saskatchewan
In its report, the Canadian Electricity Advisory Council acknowledged that decarbonizing electricity generation will pose a “significant” challenge in jurisdictions like Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The council recommends that these provinces receive targeted federal financial support and suggests that investment tax credits for emissions reduction technologies should be “skewed” towards provinces that most need help with their decarbonization .
The council also recommended that the federal government demonstrate “flexibility” in its expectations of these provinces.
“What we think is achievable is to achieve the ultimate goal of 2050 (…) We have not stuck to a precise timetable,” declared Philippe Dunsky, founder of Dunsky Energy and Climate Solutions and chairman of the committee. federal advisory, in interview.
“We didn’t say it had to be 100% achieved by 2035. I think there’s a little room for maneuver.”
Nevertheless, Mr Dunsky assured that the energy transition “is happening, whether we like it or not” and that all parties involved must work together in a “thoughtful and pragmatic way”.
“On the one hand, I don’t think we should limit ourselves to a date. On the other hand, I don’t think we should use this leeway to shirk (what we need to do).”
The Alberta government responded Tuesday to the release of the advisory report by saying it supports its position that “one size fits all” electricity regulations are unrealistic and will lead to failure.
Premier Danielle Smith, speaking Tuesday at an energy conference in Calgary, did not address electricity specifically, but said the federal government’s attempts to legislate climate goals – such as its plan to cap emissions from the oil and gas sector – are not useful.
“When it comes to reducing emissions, we’ve been successful,” she said, adding that Alberta’s largest companies have made their own commitments to net zero by 2050 and are exploring the technology. to help them achieve this, but it takes time.
“There is no need for the federal government to create uncertainty by setting arbitrary and unworkable deadlines.”
Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday that Alberta’s response to the advisory report was “just political.”
He said the federal government has listened to concerns from Alberta and Saskatchewan about their need for flexibility and intends to release a revised version of its clean electricity rules later this year.
“What the (advisory council) report says is that we need to move toward a clean grid and we need to do it in a way that reflects concerns about affordability and reliability,” Mr. Wilkinson.
“It’s a good report (…) it’s exactly what we’ve been working on for a long time.”
— With Mia Rabson, in Ottawa
