(Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Increasing Energy Efficiency

Province announces $131-million for emissions reduction projects

Nov 18, 2021 | 1:01 PM

The Alberta Government is dolling out a second round of grants this month for projects aimed at increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

They are investing up to $131-million into the Industrial Energy Efficiency and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage program (IEE CCUS).

Premier Jason Kenney says the seven projects will receive over $100-million combined, which will support an estimated 2,200 jobs and cut 2.9-million tonnes of emissions by 2030.

As well, up to $31-million will be allocated to more initiatives in the future.

“We are moving Alberta forward with climate policies that are creating jobs and actually reducing emissions. These investments will help create jobs, spur economic growth and continue the hard work that we are doing to protect our environment as a responsible and sustainable energy leader.”

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These projects include:

• Advantage Energy: Glacier Gas Plant Carbon Capture and Storage and Waste Heat Recovery in Hythe
• Ember Resources: Ember Engine Emissions Reduction Program at multiple facilities throughout east/central Alberta
• Imperial Oil: Kearl ConDex Full Scale Oil Sands Mine Installations in Fort McMurray
• NuVista Energy: Wembley Cogeneration and Waste Heat Recovery Project in Wembley
• Strathcona Resources: Lindbergh T70 Cogeneration Expansion in Elk Point
• TC Energy: Turney Valley Generating Station in Turner Valley
• Tidewater Midstream: BRC Integrated Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)-CCS-Cogeneration Project in Cynthia

“Alberta is a proven leader when it comes to emissions reduction technology, from exploring clean hydrogen and geothermal development to government’s latest investments in industrial energy efficiency and CCUS,” adds Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks. “The TIER fund continues to help companies turn innovative ideas into real projects with measurable results like cost savings, more jobs and fewer emissions.”

NDP Environment Critic Marlin Schmidt released the following statement regarding the announcement:

“The UCP’s TIER funding is a small fraction of the investment that will be required to achieve our climate targets.

“If we want to achieve net-zero by 2050, and a net-zero grid by 2035, we need to see much more support from the government and an ability to attract investment in emissions reduction technology.

“Unfortunately, the UCP still hasn’t committed to achieving net-zero while they continue to fund their embarrassing War Room, members of their caucus openly deny the science of climate change, and the premier calls environmental, social, and governance factors the ‘flavour of the month.’

“The UCP’s unwillingness to take climate change seriously and refusal to commit to net-zero means Alberta risks being left behind as investment and jobs go to other jurisdictions and the negative impacts of climate change increase.”

On Wednesday, the government announced a combined total of nearly $50 million being provided to 23 Alberta projects to advance innovation that aims to help Alberta become an even stronger leader in clean energy technologies, reduce emissions over the near and long term, and create jobs for Albertans.

Officials say funding for these projects is being delivered through the Alberta Innovates TIER Economic Recovery Program. The approved projects will provide technological solutions for Alberta’s energy industry, spanning areas like oil and gas operations, partial upgrading, hydrogen production, recycling, artificial intelligence, machine learning and more.

Alberta Innovates expects these 23 projects will support a total of 1,307 project-related jobs for Albertans while contributing $169 million to the province’s GDP.

Earlier this month, the provincial and federal governments announced $176-million for emissions reduction projects.

NDP Critic for Economic Development and Innovation Deron Bilous issued the following statement regarding the UCP’s announcement of TIER funding:

“The UCP likes to talk about the importance of innovation, but their record tells a different story.

“Upon coming into office, the UCP declared economic diversification a luxury and cut programs designed to support innovation in clean tech.

“The UCP has cut Alberta Innovates by $26 million since coming into office, cancelled the Alberta Investor Tax Credit and Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit that attracted investment for tech startups, and cut $700 million from post-secondary institutions across the province – the main drivers of cutting edge research and innovation in Alberta.

“While the UCP now touts the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in order to attract investment, Jason Kenney once called it ‘the flavour of the month’ and it’s unclear what their ESG secretariat has done to date. Meanwhile, the UCP still hasn’t committed to achieving net-zero by 2050 – a commitment that international investors are looking for.

“Alberta’s NDP is committed to making economic diversification a priority, restoring support for innovation, and building a net-zero grid by 2035 that will create 60,000 jobs.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)