Provincial incentives to reduce methane

Funding available across economy to limit harmful greenhouse gas

The Alberta government announced an additional $33 million Friday to reduce methane emissions in the province, bringing the total earmarked to help advance technologies aimed at reducing the harmful greenhouse gas to $40 million.

The money will come from the former Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation, which was renamed Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) on Friday. The organization gets its funding from the province’s heavy emitters who pay into the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund to comply with Alberta’s carbon pricing legislation.

Steve MacDonald, CEO of ERA, said proposals will be welcomed for projects that present solutions to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas, agriculture and land- fill sectors, as well as projects to improve methane detection and quantification. ERA will provide successful applicants up to a maximum of $5 million.

Anyone is welcome to apply for funding, MacDonald said, including tech developers, small- and medium- sized businesses, universities, municipalities, and even individuals.

“We are especially encouraging technology developers — people with new technologies and innovative ideas — to come forward with ideas,” he said.

Methane has a global warming potential more than 25 times that of carbon dioxide. The Alberta government has set a target of reducing methane emissions by 45 per cent by 2025.

Tim McMillan, president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said Alberta’s oil and gas industry is committed to reducing methane emissions and believes the consistent development and application of technology is the way to go.

“I think that investments like this in technology can ultimately be Canada’s largest contribution to the challenge of lowering gas emissions globally,” McMillan said.

Project submissions are being accepted online between Oct. 28 and Dec. 15 at www.ERAlberta.ca.

Investments in technology can be Canada’s largest contribution to lowering gas emissions globally.

SHAUGHN BUTTS Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said the province’s request for information on the cost of powering its facilities using solar energy should provide important information about solar’s current business viability.