The province of Alberta announced Tuesday afternoon they have reached a preliminary deal with Ottawa on methane emissions from businesses..A preliminary equivalency agreement with the federal government is a major step toward providing Alberta’s oil and gas industry a single set of strong rules to reduce methane emissions and protect the environment,” the Alberta government said in a release..“Without this agreement, federal rules would remain in effect in the province indefinitely, meaning producers would need to adhere to two sets of overlapping methane reduction rules. Now, the process to stand down federal regulations in Alberta can begin, allowing the province to build on an already excellent history of reducing emissions utilizing local expertise.”.Methane’s environmental impact is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. In 2014, the baseline year to measure reductions, an estimated 31.4 megatonnes carbon dioxide equivalent of methane was emitted from Alberta’s upstream oil and gas sector, the province said..The Alberta approach is expected to reduce methane emissions by 45 per cent from 2014 levels by 2025..The province and feds have been negotiating for years over methane emissions. The agreement means Alberta’ will achieve the same emissions reductions as the federal regulation by 2025..The province said it is expected to exceed the reductions of the federal regulation by 2030..“The flexibility and innovation allowed in Alberta’s regulatory framework means industry can achieve emissions reductions in a more cost-effective manner and with more certainty around the regulatory process,” a government release said..Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon was thrilled a deal has been reached..“This agreement represents further proof that environmental and economic outcomes go hand in hand. It is a further testament to Alberta’s strong tradition of regulatory excellence and another successful example of the province retaining our own jurisdiction over our regulatory processes. Our large industries have consistently demonstrated that emissions reduction can be achieved through innovation and we will continue to support this approach,” said Nixon in a statement.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .Energy Minister Sonya Savage said: “As we make plans for economic recovery and set a course for our province’s future prosperity, it is critical for industry to have the regulatory certainty needed to operate and further invest in Alberta. This preliminary agreement will give Alberta the ability to achieve methane emission reductions through one of the strongest regulatory systems in the world.”.The agreement was also welcomed by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers..“The preliminary agreement is good news for Alberta’s oil and natural gas producers. It will reduce the administrative burden on companies and give them a single framework for tackling methane emissions when the agreement is finalized. Our country has some of the most stringent regulatory standards for methane emissions and our upstream oil and natural gas industry remains committed to achieving the federal methane emissions reduction targets.”,” said Tim McMillan, president and CEO of CAPP..The preliminary agreement will require a legislated review process and approval by federal cabinet. .Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: @Nobby7694
