Emission reduction ideas flow to panel

CALGARY TransAlta and ATCO are suggesting Alberta “dial down” its coal-fired power plants and “dial up” the amount of renewable energy, and Shell, Cenovus and Suncor are endorsing a carbon tax.

Yes, you did read that correctly. Big Coal is suggesting it restrict generation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and Big Oil is saying yes to a tax on carbon.

Alberta has begun an in-depth public discussion on climate change and Premier Rachel Notley couldn’t be happier.

Her Alberta Climate Change Panel received more than 400 submissions before its Sept. 30 deadline and there’s been input from everyone from major multinational corporations to individual Albertans; from environmentalists and industrialists to deniers of climate change.

There’s even a submission from a self-described alien.

Among the thousands of pages of data and opinions, there are charts and analysis and more numbers and percentages and acronyms than one could ever want to try to absorb.

“The level of intention and thought and professionalism and research that is coming to this discussion from many, many people across Alberta — including industry — is very encouraging,” Notley told reporters Friday. “There are real discussions going on and there seems to be a very clear understanding by leaders within industry that we have to make some real changes going forward.”

Notley said the submissions are creative and collaborative.

“The quality of the conversation has just improved so dramatically in just such a short time,” she said. “Instead of pretending that the problem is not there, we’re actually having a very thoughtful conversation.”

Notley said people are taking the issue seriously and she is optimistic she will have a provincial strategy to take to climate change talks in Paris in December.

Pembina Institute director Simon Dyer, who sifted through the submissions on the Alberta Environment website Friday, said there are a large number of very substantial contributions from industry, municipalities, environmental organizations and the public.

“A majority seem to make constructive recommendations on the need for Alberta to raise its game on addressing climate change,” he said.

Dyer noted that several energy companies have endorsed the need for a carbon tax, going beyond the position the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers set out in its submission.