The Climate Leadership Implementation Act is set to bring some very intriguing plans to the table.
Government and commercial partners are taking a step to invest in the green energy industry, one that promises to make way for a healthy future with fewer pesky greenhouse gas emissions, a diverse energy industry and new jobs.
The Act, now in the form of Bill 20, establishes the much-discussed carbon levy, an accompanying rebate program, and creates Energy Efficiency Alberta, an agency that promises to “develop and deliver provincial-scale energy efficiency and small scale renewable programs and services.”
To make it successful, the government needs to make it work holistically, in a way that encourages the development of green-industry jobs while taking meaningful steps to reduce greenhouse gases.
The Wildrose Party and others have criticized the new carbon levy as just another fee for weary taxpayers. Despite the costs, economists have pointed out that tax programs have worked to help other areas reduce their carbon emissions, from our neighbours in British Columbia to Australia.
(Sidenote – Australia’s carbon tax was repealed in 2014, two years after implementation. The Australian government’s December report on carbon emissions states that while the levy was in place they dropped, rising again once it was removed.)
Legislation coming down the pipe will have to address the carbon being emitted from the oil sands, which are exempt from the carbon levy.
Currently lumped under the category of “large industrial emitters,” oil production industries are subjected Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) levy framework. That will end in 2017, at which point the government has stated it will transition to “product and sector-based performance standards.”
Further to that, wise investments of rebate dollars will have to be made. As of now, decisions on where the carbon levy funds will be spent have been vague.
With the passing of the first reading of Bill 20 this week, the province is, hopefully, on its way to building a well-rounded set of policies that tackle climate change, while diversifying and strengthening the economy.
