Environment Minister Jason Nixon speaking at a business west of Red Deer on Sept. 25 (Gov't of Alberta Youtube livestream)

By rdnewsNOW staff

$52 MILLION PLAN

Alberta announces carbon levy-funded programs to reduce oilpatch methane emissions

Sep 26, 2020 | 11:15 AM

Alberta has announced where it will spend part of the money it recently earmarked to reduce methane emissions from the oilpatch.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon says $25 million will be spent helping companies buy emissions reduction equipment.

Another $27 million will be spent helping companies find, repair and measure methane leaks.

The money will come from Alberta’s levy on industrial greenhouse gas emitters (TIER fund), a type of carbon tax.

Nixon says the program will help reach the province’s goal of reducing methane emission by 45 per cent below 2014 levels by 2025.

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““Albertans know what is best for our province, and have been leaders of responsible methane management for years,” Nixon said Friday. “Today’s announcement builds on our strengths by supporting the entrepreneurs and innovators who are the bedrock of our province. We’re reducing emissions through the industry-funded TIER system, rather than taking from the pockets of Alberta families and small businesses.”

The province says the investment will directly support 3,400 jobs and up to 8,700 jobs when investments from industry and other funding sources are included, with a total of $1.9 billion being injected into the economy.

Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, about 25 times more so than carbon dioxide.

(With file from The Canadian Press)