Clean electricity powering federal buildings: Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs—February 27, 2020

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Commitment on clean electricity powering federal buildings

In line with the mandate, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is working with the provinces and energy suppliers, to develop a strategy to power federal buildings with 100% clean electricity, where available, by 2022. PSPC is also committing to being a first purchaser to help support the growth of new clean electricity/renewable power sources as they become available.

Key messages on clean electricity powering federal buildings

• PSPC has been working to meet the Pan-Canadian Framework commitment to power federal buildings with 100% clean sources by 2025
  • the new PSPC mandate now commits us to achieving that goal by 2022
• Clean power is defined as electricity that is produced from non-greenhouse gas emitting energy sources
• Currently, 80% of power consumed by the Government of Canada comes from clean sources supplied by the provincial and territorial utility grids
• The Government of Canada will work with provinces, territories and industry to develop new clean power generation in Canada
  • this will reduce the government’s carbon footprint, while stimulating economic growth in the renewable energy sector
• At the same time, PSPC is working to reduce energy consumption internally through energy-efficiency measures

Current status on clean electricity powering federal buildings

PSPC (the Real Property Services Branch in collaboration with Western and Atlantic regions) is collaborating with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Centre for Greening Government and the Department of National Defence on a national strategy to meet this Government of Canada commitment.

Background on clean electricity powering federal buildings

As part of the 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework of Clean Growth and Climate Change, the federal government set a goal of using 100% clean power by 2025. During the 2019 election campaign the government committed to accelerating this timeframe to 2022. PSPC’s technical and procurement expertise will be a key enabler for this initiative.

Clean power is defined as electricity that is produced from non-greenhouse gas emitting energy sources. In Canada, the majority of clean electricity, provided by utilities, comes from hydro-electric, nuclear, wind, and solar power generation.

PSPC is evaluating the best approach to putting in place power purchase agreements to satisfy Government of Canada requirements for clean electricity. The power purchase agreements will require the construction of new non-greenhouse gas emitting electricity production.

The cost for clean power will be dependent on the approach that PSPC takes to establishing the power purchase agreements and capacity of the industry.

Questions and answers on clean electricity powering federal buildings

Question 1

What will be the costs associated with the government’s commitment to implementing clean power by 2022?

Answer 1

The cost for clean power will depend on the approach that PSPC takes to establish power purchase agreements and capacity of the industry.

Question 2

How much of the power consumed by the Government of Canada currently comes from clean sources?

Answer 2

Currently, 80% of power consumed by the Government of Canada comes from clean sources supplied by the provincial and territorial utility grids.

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