Energy companies more optimistic of Trudeau’s climate goals than Alberta premier
Global News
Alberta, which generates the third-most electricity among the provinces, produced half of Canada's emissions from generation in 2020.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is aiming to turn Canada’s power grid net-zero by 2035, a goal that the premier of oil and gas-producing Alberta says she will defy, charging it is unrealistic before 2050.
But power-generating companies in the country’s highest greenhouse gas-emitting province are more optimistic and say they are looking to eliminate or offset direct emissions well ahead of Alberta’s target, even if they are not committing to Trudeau’s either.
Progress in Alberta is critical to Trudeau’s chances of electrifying Canada’s vehicles and buildings with clean power, the backbone of global efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and slow climate change. Ottawa plans to unveil regulations this summer forcing power generators to move to net-zero.
Alberta, which generates the third-most electricity among provinces, produced half of Canada’s emissions from generation in 2020. Trudeau’s goal of a national net-zero grid by 2035 is a stretch in Alberta since the province burns natural gas for most power.
But executives at Alberta power generators TransAlta and Heartland Generation told Reuters they may come close to net-zero by 2035.
Capital Power may reach neutrality by 2045, its CEO said, which would miss Trudeau’s goal, but would achieve net-zero five years earlier than Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s 2050 target.
“I’m optimistic that we’re going to get close for 2035,” said Shana Boyd, Heartland’s vice president of energy transition, which currently produces all of its electricity from burning natural gas. “It’s going to require a lot of work and a lot of pieces to fall into place.”
For Heartland, reaching net-zero depends on how quickly it can build and replicate facilities that use hydrogen to produce electricity and sequester the carbon, Boyd said. It is planning a final decision on its first such facility next year.