Photo Courtesy Canadian Press

By Tanner Smith

Alberta

Premier Smith calls Federal Clean Electricity Regulations “unconstitutional & irresponsible”

Aug 11, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The Alberta Government has responded to the Federal Government’s new clean electricity regulations, with Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Shultz saying “it won’t be something Alberta implements.”

Premier Danielle Smith calls the proposed regulations “unconstitutional and irresponsible,” in a release sent out by the province.

Premier Smith adds; “These regulations make desperately needed investments in new natural gas generation almost impossible. If implemented in Alberta, these regulations would endanger the reliability of Alberta’s power grid and cause massive increases in Albertans’ power bills.”

As the regulations are a draft, changes can still be made, as two main concerns continue to be raised by the Alberta government. Those are electricity reliability and affordability.

Minister Schultz says they will try and work with the federal government to revise these regulations, but if an agreement can’t be met, Alberta-created regulations will be implemented.

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“We are beginning our talks with the federal government, and if we can’t get alignment, Alberta will chart its own path to ensure reliable and affordable electricity for the people we serve. This means making sure we have an adequate natural gas base load, and incentivizing CCS-abated natural gas generation, small modular reactors hydrogen, and a sustainable amount of wind, solar, and other renewables, to drive down electricity costs,” says Shultz.

Schultz adds the goals set out by the federal government are unrealistic and not flexible, as the price associated with a net-zero electricity grid by 2035 would handcuff Albertans.

“We will be doing a detailed analysis in the months ahead, however, one thing is clear: the draft regulations are unconstitutional, irresponsible, unrealistic, and would make life less affordable for Albertans and Canadians. They will not be implemented in our province period! They can’t.”

Schultz adds these regulations by the federal government are what she calls a “bait-and-switch” as the regulations allow natural gas to operate, but have conditions where plants must shut down.

“Three weeks ago, I had my first meeting with my federal counterpart. During that meeting, I specifically raised Alberta’s concerns that these regulations threatened reliability. In the dead of winter or the middle of summer, Albertans need natural gas to keep our grid running and keep families from freezing, to turn the lights on to run air conditioning and keep businesses operating.”

This response from the provincial government comes a week after 91 large renewable energy project approvals were put on pause so an inquiry could be done on land use and reclamation.

That pause already ruffled some feathers of businesses in the renewable energy business sector in Alberta, as Canadian company; Iron and Earth has asked the Alberta government to engage with the renewable energy sector, due to fears of investors going elsewhere.

Alberta’s NDP, has already begun criticizing the Premier’s cabinet for refusing to follow these regulations in favor of their own at a time when they are limiting progress in the renewable energy sector.

Alberta NDP Critic, Nagwan Al-Guneid said in a release; “We can see the climate changing in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world. Urgent action is absolutely necessary to reach a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. At a time when Albertans are facing both unprecedented wildfires and unprecedented electricity prices, Danielle Smith and the UCP have imposed a seven-month moratorium on renewables and blocked the construction of a new low-cost, low-emission energy supply. This moratorium is mind-boggling.”

According to the Business Renewables Centre, $4.7 billion has been invested in renewable energy projects in Alberta since 2019, providing 5,300 jobs.