PART 3 of 5
Expanding energy options for Albertans
Albertans value innovation as well as the efficient use and clean production of energy. The debate on global warming and man’s contribution to the problem of toxic carbon dioxide emissions remains unsettled. Danielle’s view is a diplomatic one as she encourages people to hear all sides of the issue. “But regardless of the climate change question, the world is plainly in a transition away from high-carbon fuels. To assist that transition, Alberta should support research into new ways of both generating and conserving energy. We should support research into clean coal, hydro, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, nuclear, wind and solar power, while improving how we meter and price electricity. We should provide incentive programs to help individuals and businesses improve energy efficiency in their homes, buildings, vehicles, appliances and machinery,” explains Danielle.
Also, she insists that we avoid the fallacy that governments can predict winning technologies through subsidies given to individual firms or technologies. As a true champion of free enterprise and fair representation, she believes the Alberta government should create broad incentives and leave the issue of commercial development to entrepreneurs in the free market.
Expanding energy options for Albertans?Albertans value innovation as well as the efficient use and clean production of energy. The debate on global warming and man’s contribution to the problem of toxic carbon dioxide emissions remains unsettled. Danielle’s view is a diplomatic one as she encourages people to hear all sides of the issue. “But regardless of the climate change question, the world is plainly in a transition away from high-carbon fuels. To assist that transition, Alberta should support research into new ways of both generating and conserving energy. We should support research into clean coal, hydro, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, nuclear, wind and solar power, while improving how we meter and price electricity. We should provide incentive programs to help individuals and businesses improve energy efficiency in their homes, buildings, vehicles, appliances and machinery,” explains Danielle.
Also, she insists that we avoid the fallacy that governments can predict winning technologies through subsidies given to individual firms or technologies. As a true champion of free enterprise and fair representation, she believes the Alberta government should create broad incentives and leave the issue of commercial development to entrepreneurs in the free market.
Ending the $2-billion dollar carbon capture fund
Danielle’s stance on carbon capture is firm. “The Stelmach government’s $2-billion Carbon Capture and Storage Fund will award a handful of Alberta’s richest corporations hundreds of millions of tax dollars to research the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. But history tells us that government cannot pick winning technologies, and taxpayers should not pay for efforts, but rather, for results. The PC’s costly pick-a-winner program should be cancelled, with some of the funding diverted into the creation of an “X-Prize” for carbon dioxide capture, storage and clean coal technology.”
There are many benefits to the Wildrose Alliance’s approach compared with the Tories’s pick-a-winner program where the richest corporations become wealthier. Specifically, three of the top benefits promote brainstorming solutions in both ideological and practical ways. “Such prizes would broaden the pool of creative talents involved, expand the range of technologies explored, and increase prospects for the development of emissions abatement technologies that work,” suggests Danielle.
Tax credits and rebates for green energy do not have to be very costly - especially compared to expensive schemes like carbon capture and storage, which may not even work. When the $2 billion carbon capture program was announced, the government press release said it would save up to five million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2015. That’s a cost of $400 per tonne. When the government announced its $36 million consumer rebate program, it said it would save one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. “That’s a cost of $36 per tonne. If it is so cost-effective to use rebates and incentives to change consumer behavior and get real reductions in energy use, it seems obvious that we should scrap carbon capture and give more rebates and incentives to households and businesses for choosing greener energy options,” informs Danielle.
Exporting “green” technologies
Danielle’s high praise of Alberta’s innovation and clout when it comes to green technologies can benefit the rest of the world. “Alberta companies have an enviable record of developing environmentally friendly processes and technologies for resource extraction and harvesting. Alberta should be a champion for these innovations and focus on ways to streamline the green-technology patent process, to assist in the export of this technology to other countries that currently do not produce or use hydrocarbon fuels in a sustainable manner.”
The sustainable energy movement in Alberta is growing and becoming stronger. This change in direction and overwhelming support for the Wildrose Alliance Party in the recent poll on December 12th, 2009, predicted that if an election were to be held now, they would win hands down.
New ideas and applications need to be developed in the next decade to bring the environment and the planet back into a state of equilibrium. It will take time but with intent, passionate conviction and collective action at the local level, it can be achieved on a global scale. The passionate vocal worldwide movement in favor of protecting the environment and a demand for sustainable solutions indicates a welcome change in consciousness globally.
Cleaning up toxic waste
Cleaning up toxic waste and reducing the dependence on high-carbon fuels is a long-term challenge. There is an urgency to clean up the oil sands pollution especially since the Government of Canada and Alberta in particular is under scrutiny by the rest of the world to practice what they preach. “A more immediate need is to continue eliminating toxic substances from our air, water and land. Fort McMurray tailing ponds must be cleaned up. We need to further improve land reclamation plans and practices after resources have been extracted. Some agricultural run-off still threatens Canadian surface and subsurface waters. We must ensure that the level of emissions of toxic substances into our air, water and soil are at safe levels for human health and the environment,” urges Danielle.
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