Launching Alberta's Energy Future, Provincial Energy Strategy

1.  Introduction and Content

2.  Alberta's Energy Vision

3.  Outcomes

• Clean Energy Production
• Wise Energy Use
• Sustained Economic Prosperity

4.  Levers
5.  Implementation
6.  It is Time

acknowledgments
Message from the Minister of Energy

2.1 Sustainable Prosperity

Alberta can take the initiative to lead toward a better, brighter future. This is the path that allows Alberta to not only respond to “issues” but take full advantage of the opportunities. We have taken this path in the past when it has been needed.  We believe that it is needed again. Around the world, economies are either proactively managing the new realities, or being managed by them. Alberta has the wherewithal to leverage its current position and prepare for what is coming.  This is the path of enlightened self-interest. Notwithstanding the diversity of views on climate change and its causes, it is clearly in Alberta’s and Canada’s economic interest to manage its energy future and carbon better. We can build on our strengths, address our challenges and pursue a strategic approach.

In the end, this path will allow us to move beyond viewing the challenges as the costs of continuing our growth. It will pave the way to sustained wealth creation, while safeguarding our environment and our social advantages for future generations of Albertans. Ultimately, the market will still decide. But the “Sustainable Prosperity” path will allow us to play a significant proactive role in our own future – and to demonstrate leadership and exert our fullest influence on the world stage.

The price, of course, is courage.

2.2 Our Energy Vision

Courage starts with vision. Everything about our past and present, and everything we know about the future, points out that Alberta should aspire to be:

A global energy leader,

recognized as a responsible world-class energy supplier,

an energy technology champion,

a sophisticated energy consumer,

and a solid global environmental citizen.

2.3 Critical Assertions

This energy strategy reflects the resourceful and responsible approach Alberta will take toward the long-term development of energy in our province. The following assertions represent fundamental guideposts of that direction:

1. The development of clean hydrocarbons is essential to Alberta’s energy future.
The world’s fossil fuel supply remains plentiful, but in a carbon-constrained world we must find methods to develop and consume fossil fuels in an environmentally responsible way, and this must be Alberta’s responsibility and focus. Alternative and renewable energy sources will play a growing role in Alberta energy’s future, but they cannot match the importance to Alberta of “clean” fossil fuels.

2. Ongoing development of Alberta’s energy resources will be a platform for continued economic growth and success.
Alberta’s energy future is also about revenues, value-added activity and sustainable jobs for Albertans and Canadians. An important benefit of the energy strategy is that it will lead to a future of long-term prosperity, continuing to drive job and wealth creation across Canada and providing value to Albertans as resource owners.

3. Alberta’s energy future will properly account for cumulative effects to the environment and greenhouse gas emissions.
This strategy recognizes that developing Alberta’s energy resources involves more than the need for specialized equipment and skilled labour – that the impacts of development are often more than simply dollars and cents. Decisions associated with energy production and consumption must ultimately take into account cumulative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, and impacts to land, air and water.

4. Alberta will invest in energy infrastructure, including policy development and energy research.
Investment in infrastructure is integral to Alberta’s energy future. Investment means funding for tangible infrastructure and it also refers to investing time and effort on policies, regulations and institutional capacity that promote and ensure the development and deployment of new technologies that increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

5. Government will encourage energy efficiency and conservation at all levels.
From individuals to industry, all Albertans must play a role in using and consuming energy in a responsible manner. Energy resources should be consumed with an emphasis on efficiency, conservation and wise use. We all have a role to play, and the impact that individuals make through personal choices should never be underestimated - be it green buildings, cleaner transportation, efficient appliances, heating and lighting or outright conservation.

6. Alberta will build on success.
Alberta’s energy future depends on the continued development of our energy resources in ways that are integrated and environmentally sound. Future development will provide Albertans with tangible benefits and will recognize the responsibilities we shoulder as Canadians and global citizens. Alberta’s energy future will respect the need for meaningful engagement of all Albertans, including Aboriginal Albertans. All development will expand and increase our strengths and competitiveness within integrated North American and global markets.

2.4 Desired Outcomes

Exercising resourcefulness and responsibility, we believe that we will be able to achieve the following explicit outcomes:

• Clean energy production.
• Wise energy use.
• Sustained economic prosperity.

Realizing these three central outcomes will put us well within reach of our energy vision. The burning question, of course, is: How will we do it? There is more than
one answer:

1. We will address the environmental footprint of energy.
2. We will investigate and exploit the ways in which we can add value to Alberta’s energy industry.
3. We will seek to change energy consumption behaviour.
4. We will improve our innovation including energy technology leadership and development of people.
5. We will enhance the capability of our electricity system.
6. We will work to bolster knowledge and awareness of and appropriate education on energy issues.
7. We will work to ensure alignment of other initiatives, programs, policies, and regulations with this strategy.

Section 3 expands on the three central outcomes. Section 4 builds out these seven explicit levers. Bold government action today will enable Alberta to scribe a self-determined future that will reap immediate and far-reaching benefits, while dramatically improving global goodwill. Albertans will lead, rather than be led.