Alberta's Emissions Reduction And Energy Development Plan

On April 19, 2023, the Alberta government released its Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan [PDF] (the Alberta Plan), which aligns with the federal target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but does not accept certain federal emissions reduction targets for 2030. In this blog post, we highlight some aspects of the Alberta Plan, including where it conflicts with federal plans to achieve a national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 40–45% (below 2005 levels) by 2030. Overview of the Alberta PlanAt a high level, the Alberta Plan seeks to maintain energy security and position Alberta as a leader in emissions reductions, while attracting investment, working with Indigenous communities and supporting jobs. Notably, the Alberta Plan rejects the goal of requiring a net-zero electricity grid by 2035 as stated in the federal government's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. The Alberta Plan states that this federal goal is not technologically feasible and threatens electricity affordability and reliability.