Sometimes maybe I’m too cynical.
Oh I was very happy for Albertans when the NDP won for the first time and Rachel Notley became premier. Because they had never had a chance of winning, there wasn’t enough time for the Alberta NDP to become the focus grouped “pocketbook populists” that I’ve seen in lots of NDP campaigns across the country.
Instead they ran on solid if not too adventurous social democracy: $15 minimum wage, infrastructure spending, higher corporate taxes, higher taxes for the rich, cancellation of the previous government’s drastic budget cuts and contracting out of health services. And they followed through and did all that — but I didn’t expect much of anything on the environment because “it’s Alberta.”
It’s nice to be wrong sometimes, although it could be argued this doesn’t go far enough. But it’s still quite a bit more than I had expected. I had thought maybe they would do something about coal, but that would be about it. Here’s the plan they have introduced:
Carbon pricing
— A carbon tax will be introduced on all emitters, including regular citizens driving cars and heating their homes. A $20-per-tonne, economy-wide levy will start in January 2017, then increase to $30-per-tonne in January 2018, growing over time based on inflation and based on competitive jurisdictions. For the average household, that means about $320 extra in 2017 for gas, natural gas and electricity, and $470 in 2018.
— But the carbon plan, which will bring in an estimated $3 billion, aims to be revenue neutral, with the government offering rebates through various programs to approximately 60 per cent of people with Alberta’s lowest income. For those not afforded the rebates, the government will create efficiency programs to help people reduce their energy use.
— A portion will be spent on measures to reduce pollution, including clean-energy research, green infrastructure and public transit. Money will also help small businesses, First Nations and workers in the coal industry.
Electricity and renewables
— Alberta will phase out all pollution created by burning coal by 2030, and transition to more renewable energy and natural-gas generation. The province promises the plan will provide reasonable electricity prices for consumers and businesses.
— Within the next months, the government will set up a facilitator and negotiator to work with coal-plant operators to figure out how best to move forward, since the province’s 18 coal-fired electricity plants currently create 55 per cent of the province’s electricity.
— Two-thirds of coal-generated electricity will be replaced by renewables, mostly wind power.
— Renewable-energy sources will comprise up to 30 per cent of Alberta’s electricity production by 2030.
Emissions
— A legislated emissions cap of 100 megatonnes will be introduced on oilsands operations, which currently emit roughly 70 megatonnes of greenhouse gases per year. The legislation is expected to be introduced in the spring. Previous forecasts have suggested Alberta’s oil and gas sector will hit 100 megatonnes in emissions by 2030. The cap will not cover any new upgrading and cogeneration facilities, which will allow another 10 megatonnes.
It will also cut methane emissions from flaring and leakage by 45 per cent from 2014 levels by 2025. Methane is roughly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a heat-trapping gas.
The tar sands cap does seem pretty weak...but at least it sets a precedent to be built on. And if oil prices end up spiking again, that cap may prove to be more important than it seems right now with cheap oil
Source: edmontonjournal.com/...