EDMONTON, ALTA. – The government of Alberta is consulting with industries in the province on their new Technology and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system.
Under the proposed TIER plan, large emitters that produce more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be required to reduce emissions by 10 per cent compared to their average emissions between 2016 and 2018. They can do so by reducing their emissions, paying into a clean technology fund or purchasing offset credits. The program begins on Jan 1., 2020 and replaces the NDP government’s Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation introduced in 2018.
Alberta environment and parks minister Jason Nixon, energy minister Sonya Savage and agriculture and forestry minister Devin Dreeshen will meet with approximately 150 stakeholders to determine the structure of the TIER program.
Roundtables will be held throughout July with the oil and gas, electricity, fertilizers, minerals and metals, forest products, coal mines, landfills, chemicals, agro-industry, food processors, and distilling sectors.
“TIER is a realistic and effective approach to addressing climate change that will reduce emissions and reassure investors. Hearing stakeholder perspectives as we design TIER will make sure the program meets the needs of Alberta’s environment and economy. This system is the centrepiece of our government’s new provincial climate strategy, to be released this fall, which will focus on innovative and practical solutions instead of punishing Albertans with a punitive tax on heating their homes and driving their kids to soccer,” Nixon said.
“Innovation and performance improvements are happening across Alberta’s industrial sectors. The proposed TIER system will recognize and accelerate this innovation, supporting investment and jobs. We’re helping Alberta’s industries do what they do best – find better ways to do business,” Savage added.
The new system will also require electricity facilities to meet a good-as-best-gas standard where their emissions match that of the cleanest natural gas-fired generation plant.
The TIER document is available online and the public and stakeholders can send feedback through that page to the provincial government until the submission deadline of August 2.
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