‘Win/Win’: Alberta Premier Suggests Feds Displace Coal in Asia With Canadian Natural Gas to Curb Emissions, Boost Economy

A Torc Oil & Gas pump jack is seen near Granum, Alta., on May 6, 2020. (Todd Korol/Reuters)

EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has pointed to comments made by the CEO of Enbridge Inc. as a solution to improving the economy and contributing to climate change efforts.

In a social media post on Oct. 6, Premier Smith quoted Greg Ebel, CEO of the Calgary-based multinational pipeline and energy company, as saying, “If used to displace coal in Asia and eastern Europe, Canadian natural gas would have a tremendous impact on reducing global emissions.”

Ms. Smith asked federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault to “agree to start working together on this win/win opportunity.”

“This is a great opportunity to reduce global emissions and bolster Canada’s economy!” she wrote.

The federal government has presented draft regulations that would help Canada achieve a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, by stimulating investments in renewable energy like wind and solar, smart grid, and energy storage systems, along with emerging technologies such as small modular reactors and carbon capture and storage.

Some provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, have said they cannot meet the target without risking the loss of reliable power and costing consumers excessive amounts of money.

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The quote from Mr. Ebel was taken from an Oct. 6 column he wrote special to the Financial Post, which he titled “Clean Canadian natural gas can help the world combat climate change.”

Cleaner Energy

“Natural gas is a lower-carbon source of energy with about half the impact of coal. And it’s even more sustainable when it comes from Canada, which ranks among the world’s cleanest producers,” Mr. Ebel wrote.

He said coal is still responsible for 40 percent of the world’s electricity, “which means any serious energy and climate policy needs to prioritize a worldwide transition away from coal.”

According to the oil and gas executive, Canada has “more than enough natural gas” to meet the country’s own domestic needs for 200 years or more.

“What if, rather than just meeting its own net-zero goal (which represents less than two percent of global emissions), Canada could help the world reduce overall CO2 emissions much more significantly?” Mr. Ebel asked.

He suggests that focusing on natural gas would “not only more dramatically reduce emissions, it would strengthen the Canadian economy,” creating jobs and making the most of a natural resource the country has in abundance.

“Bringing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets would also support energy security—think European markets that have been dependent on Russian energy—and can alleviate energy poverty in parts of Asia and Africa,” he said, acknowledging that building and operating an LNG facility “requires major construction and power consumption.”

“It therefore takes a degree of political courage to go all-in on LNG because it can lead to an increase in domestic emissions. But it will also create a sizable net benefit as we help reduce the 98.5 percent of emissions produced beyond our borders.”

Mr. Ebel also suggested that Ottawa adopt policies and regulations to enable the responsible and efficient development and export of LNG and streamline permitting processes to better respond to the urgent need for more gas.