DRAYTON VALLEY — Recently updated projections indicate that Alberta's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could be about 65% higher in 2010 than in 1990-far higher than previously expected.(1) This is another important reason for delaying the construction of new coal-fired power plants, said Tom Marr-Laing, Director of the Pembina Institute's Energy Watch Program
"We were already concerned by earlier figures that showed a 40% increase in emissions by 2010, but the newest information is far worse," said Marr-Laing. "Alberta's rapidly growing GHG emissions represent a huge liability in the 'carbon-constrained' future of the Kyoto Protocol and all Albertans will bear the costs.(2) The sooner we take action to reduce our liability, the less painful it will be."
Alberta can no longer afford to bury its head in the sand on this issue. The federal government has not yet made any commitment to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. However, it is evident from statements made by provincial Minister of Environment Lorne Taylor at a seminar sponsored by Alberta's Climate Change Central at the University of Calgary on September 6th, that he expects ratification next year.
"With Kyoto likely to become a reality, one immediate step we can take is to delay new coal-fired power plants," said Mary Griffiths, an Environmental Policy Analyst with the Pembina Institute. "In another decade, new coal plant technology that enables the capture of GHGs could be economically feasible. Until then, we should rely on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and less polluting fossil fuels to meet our electricity needs."
In its submission to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board regarding EPCOR's application for a new power plant at Genesee, the Pembina Institute shows that Alberta's electricity needs can be met for more than a decade without any new coal projects. Energy efficiency measures, further development of renewable energy, and electricity generation from natural gas and co-generation plants can meet demand.
"The newest coal-fired power plant proposed by EPCOR would produce more than twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as the same amount of electricity generated from natural gas. Renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, create virtually no emissions," Griffiths pointed out.
EPCOR has said the company will offset greenhouse gas emissions from the Genesee expansion, to make them equivalent to those from a natural gas plant, by developing some renewable energy and purchasing credits from other projects.
"It's far better to avoid creating greenhouse gases in the first place as we'll need all the offsets we can get to meet our Kyoto target," said Marr-Laing.
Alberta's electricity industry created 47 megatonnes of GHGs in 2000, and that could increase to over 57 megatonnes by 2010 if new coal-fired plants proposed by EPCOR and TransAlta go ahead. Alberta already produces as many GHG emissions as Quebec, British Columbia, Atlantic Canada and the Northern Territories combined.
The Pembina Institute's submission to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board is being made on behalf of the Clean Energy Coalition. The Coalition includes the Environmental Resource Centre, Toxics Watch Society and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, as well as local landowners. The EUB hearing on EPCOR's Genesee 3 plant began on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 in the Genesee Community Centre.
Released by the Pembina Institute on behalf of the Clean Energy Coalition Project Review Team.
For more information contact:
Tom Marr-Laing
Director, Energy Watch Program, Pembina Institute
Cell: 780-621-2472
Email: thomasml@pembina.org
Mary Griffiths
Policy Analyst, Pembina Institute
Office: 780-433-6675
Email: maryg@pembina.org
For more information please see the backgrounder for this news release.