14 October 2009
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada is strengthening its position as a world leader in clean energy as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach today announced construction of one of the world’s first fully-integrated carbon capture and storage projects, for a coal-fired power plant near Edmonton. A partnership between the Harper Government and the Government of Alberta, the project will reduce CO2 emissions from TransAlta’s Keephills 3 plant near Edmonton.
“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Conservative government is investing in clean energy projects that are creating high-quality jobs for Canadians now, helping our environment and preparing the economy for the future,” said the Prime Minister. “We are pleased to be working with TransAlta and the Government of Alberta to support this innovative clean energy technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Carbon capture and storage provides Alberta and Canada a global leadership opportunity to use new technology to reduce CO2 emissions,” said Steve Snyder, President and CEO of TransAlta, Canada’s largest independent power producer. “We are pleased to have partners in the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta to join us in this important initiative. New carbon capture technologies like chilled ammonia show tremendous promise but are not commercially viable at this time. Government and industry partnerships are critical to accelerate the implementation of these new technologies, and to provide a sustainable competitive edge and job creation for Canada and Canadian companies. Canada can lead the world in real CO2 reductions through CCS.”
The project is partly funded through the $1-billion Clean Energy Fund. Delivered through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Fund is advancing Canada’s leadership on clean energy technologies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from energy production. According to the Canada-Alberta ecoENERGY CCS Task Force report, CCS technology could allow Canada to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by almost three-quarters of Canada’s current annual emissions.
