Federal strategy aligns with Alberta's blue hydrogen plans, province says
Alberta's government is welcoming the federal government's new hydrogen strategy.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'regan introduced the long-awaited plan Wednesday in an effort to cement Canada as a global supplier of the zero-emission fuel, help hit its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and create up to 350,000 new jobs.
The federal document has few spending details, but is focused on spurring investment through policies like the expected Clean Fuel Standard.
The strategy will be funded by $1.5 billion from the previouslyannounced Low-carbon and Zero-emissions Fuel Fund.
It also embraces blue hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas through carbon capture and storage technology, as the favourite for large-scale, low-cost production to “meet demand for many decades.”
Alberta has set its sights on exporting globally by 2040 as part of its natural gas strategy, and had input on the federal plan.
The province's natural gas and electricity associate minister Dale Nally said in a statement the federal plan aligns closely with Alberta's plan, which is still in the works and set to be released in the spring.
“We very much support today's announcement as a positive step toward a hydrogen economy that can help both the province and nation,” said Nally.
But environmental groups and some critics have called on governments to focus their efforts on green hydrogen, which is produced from renewable sources and has no emissions.
The federal report says blue hydrogen “will dominate production until more renewable sources can be built and cost reduction makes the overall energy transition to renewables gain momentum.”
Alberta NDP Opposition energy critic Kathleen Ganley accused the UCP government of dragging its feet in not releasing a plan sooner.
She said it was encouraging to see some points of the federal plan in common with the NDP'S hydrogen proposal, such as building the necessary infrastructure and regional hubs.