Minister Jason Nixon announces Alberta’s TIER regulation and proposed legislation alongside industry supporters. - Government of Alberta photo

By Charles Lefebvre

Province introduces new climate change plan focused on large emitters

Oct 29, 2019 | 7:52 PM

EDMONTON — The provincial government has unveiled it’s new plan to address climate change in Alberta.

Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks, has tabled Bill 19, which would create the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system. It would replace the Carbon Competitiveness incentive program established by the NDP.

“Alberta has been a leader on emission reductions,” Nixon said during a news conference, surrounded by industry representatives. “We have led the way the way on this for a long time, and many of the companies behind me right now have been part of that lead.

“We were clear in our platform that we would work with our largest emitters, that we saw our way forward on the climate change file was to focus on technology and innovation, particularly on the large emitter side, and we will continue down that path, because that’s what Albertans voted for, and that’s what we think is the best path forward for our province.”

The bill is proposing that all companies that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide must reduce their emissions by 10 per cent in 2020. The facilities will then need to reduce emissions by an additional one per cent each subsequent year.

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In order to meet requirements, the province says companies can use credits from facilities which have met their emission goals, or use emission offsets from organizations not regulated by the program, but have voluntarily reduced emissions.

The province will also be implementing a carbon tax of $30 per tonne if they go over their emission benchmark. The money will go into the TIER fund in the province to support “cleaner and innovative technology,” a release states.

The money will also be used to help fund the Canadian Energy Centre and pay down the province’s debt.

Electricity generators will be tasked to meet a “good-as-best-gas” benchmark, the province says, where their emissions are equal to the cleanest natural gas-fired generation plant.

If the bill passes, it would take effect on January 1, 2020.