While TransAlta has abandoned the idea of carbon capture, right next door in Saskatchewan we are going full speed ahead with our own 1.1 million ton carbon capture project. Hitachi (who recently announced a $1 billion partnership) and several other private sector companies are actively participating, construction is well under way and we expect to be up and running by 2014. www.saskpowercarboncapture.com/projects/boundary_dam
More recently, Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Environment Ken Cheveldayoff, announced that they are working toward an equivalency agreement on coal-fired electricity greenhouse gas regulations. Both governments wish to avoid duplication of effort to control greenhouse gas emissions, and are working together to ensure that industry does not face two sets of regulations. An equivalency agreement would see the federal regulations stand down in favor of a provincial regulation, as long as the provincial regulation achieves an equivalent or better environmental outcome. http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=c8ebb28d-362e-4ec4-8878-59a56d92c566
So while there is bad news on the Alberta front, CO2 capture is proceeding here in Saskatchewan. Their loss, our gain.
Craig Johnston
Economic Development Officer
Estevan Chamber of Commerce
