Prime Minister Harper announces ecoTrust funding for Alberta

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, announced that Canada’s New Government intends to provide Alberta with $155.9 million, as part of a new Canada ecoTrust to support provincial projects that will result in real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.

“Canada’s New Government is investing to protect Canadians from the consequences of climate change, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Prime Minister. “Today’s announcement recognizes Alberta’s ambitious plans in this area, and provides support for measurable progress that benefits all Canadians.”

“Like all Canadians, Albertans are committed to doing their part to address climate change for our children and for future generations,” said Premier Ed Stelmach.  “As part of our government’s commitment to building a stronger Alberta, we are pleased to work together with the federal government in using innovation and technology to tackle climate change.”

Federal funding for Alberta under the Canada ecoTrust will be invested in leading-edge initiatives that will result in measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.  These initiatives will promote environmentally responsible resource development and support the province’s work on its climate change plan.

The Government of Alberta will use the funding to move forward on several clean-energy related projects, which may include support for:

identifying the opportunities and addressing the challenges associated with developing a large-scale carbon dioxide capture and storage system, to capture and transport CO2 for use in enhanced oil recovery or for underground capture and storage.  These projects will be undertaken in association with the work to be done by the joint Canada-Alberta ecoENERGY Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force;

supporting a Clean Coal Front End Engineering Design (FEED) project as the first step towards creating a coal-fired electricity generation facility capable of near-zero emissions;

a waste-to-energy project in Edmonton to convert municipal waste into electricity.  In addition to developing environmentally-responsible and economic alternatives to landfills for municipal waste disposal, this project may also demonstrate the potential for the production of fuels and energy from agricultural and forestry waste; and

a Hydrocarbon Upgrading Demonstration Program, which will invest funding in projects that explore commercial opportunities to upgrade Alberta energy resources into other consumer products, while minimizing environmental impacts.

The Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change will allow each province and territory to develop technology, energy efficiency, and other projects that will provide real results. Canada’s New Government will work with all provinces and territories to fully develop this new, national fund.

Canada’s New Government is already taking concrete action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution by committing to implement aggressive regulations to reduce emissions in all sectors and bring in new initiatives in the energy and transportation sectors. The provincial initiatives supported by the Canada ecoTrust will complement those efforts.

This Canada ecoTrust will be established using part of the anticipated 2006-07 budgetary surplus. The resources for the Canada ecoTrust initiative will consist of 1.5 billion dollars of new funding on a national basis. This funding will be contained in the upcoming budget and is a part of the actions to be taken on the fiscal imbalance. This new funding will be available as soon as Parliament approves that budget.