1/🧵"First, in what is the most significant economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution, our friends and partners around the world—chief among them, USA—are investing heavily to build clean economies and the net-zero industries of tomorrow." FinMin @ChrystiaFreeland
2/"...Canada must either meet this historic moment—this remarkable opportunity before us—or we will be left behind as the world’s democracies build the clean economy of the 21st century." - Freeland #cdnpoli#bcpoli#ableg#onpoli#cleanenergy#canada
3/The "most consequential budget in recent history for accelerating clean growth in Canada. Climate action, economic policy are one and the same—world’s major economies know that investing in clean energy is the catalyst for future competitiveness" - Rick Smith @ClimateInstit
4/ "...smart, market-oriented measures to increase Canada’s low-carbon competitiveness...big boost for clean energy...[w]e are in a clean energy arms race and there is no time to waste.” - @bernstein_micha@CleanProsperity
4/Freeland budget's clean energy priorities:
*Electrification
*Clean energy
*Clean manufacturing
*Emissions reduction
*Critical minerals
*Infrastructure
*Electric vehicles and batteries
*Major projects
5/How CANGov will finance support for the clean energy economy AND growth of clean energy technology industry.
6/Clean energy budget highlights:
*15% refundable tax credit for investments in clean electricity: wind, solar, hydro, wave, tidal, nuclear, energy storage, electricity transmission
*Available for abated natgas, subject to GHG-intensity compatible with net-zero by 2035
8/Cleantech manufacturing tax credit equal to 30% of investments in new equipment used to manufacture/process key clean technologies and critical minerals
*Estimated cost: $4.5 billion over 5 years,
*Additional $6.6 billion between 2028 and 2035.
9/Clean hydrogen investment tax credit
*Support between 15% and 40% of eligible project costs
*Extends 15% tax credit to equipment needed to convert hydrogen into ammonia for transportation
10/To be eligible for highest clean technology and clean hydrogen tax credit rates, businesses must pay a total compensation package that equates to the “prevailing wage."
Prevailing waged based on union compensation, including benefits and pension contributions
11/CANGov will consult w/provinces/territories, industry, workers/unions on concrete "reciprocal procurement."
*Conditions on foreign suppliers' participation in federally-funded infrastructure projects
*Creating a preference program for Canadian small businesses
12/"Govt has shown they are listening to workers. From 2022 Budget that included the Labour Mobility Tax Deduction for Tradespeople, to this year doubling Tradespeople Tool Deduction from $500 to $1000 – both measures directly impact a worker's wallet." buildingtrades.ca/budget-2023-de…
13/A commitment to plan to “improve the efficiency of the impact assessment and permitting processes for major projects.”
Slow approval for Canadian energy projects a sore point with many energy sectors, inc oil/gas, transmission, renewables, energy storage. etc
14/Canada Growth Fund (CGF) is $15 billion of public investment to attract private in clean economy.
Public Sector Pension Investment Board to manage assets of CGF.
15/Committment to "carbon contracts for difference (CCD)" to a select set of large decarbonization projects, via CGF.
*CCD are like insurance policies on future value of carbon credits that will help de-risk expensive capital projects, get investment flowing.
16/"While a positive step, a broader program that is accessible by a wide range of industrial emitters is still needed urgently...program should be designed in consultation w/provinces, include measures to increase efficiency, transparency of carbon-credit markets." - Bernstein
17/Canada Infrastructure Bank's role clarified: "govt's primary financing tool for supporting clean electricity generation, transmission, storage projects, including for major projects such as the Atlantic Loop."
18/Canada Infrastructure Bank will provide loans to Indigenous communities to support them in purchasing equity stakes of projects in which the Infrastructure Bank in investing.
19/Drawing on existing resources, it commits at least $10 billion of support for clean power and an additional $10 billion for clean growth infrastructure.
Investments will be sourced from existing resources.
20/Investment Tax Credit for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) to be expanded to cover additional equipment, and now be available for dedicated geological storage projects in British Columbia.
21/Freeland promised muscular and robust clean energy industrial policy in the 2023 budget. Where is it?
The USA, Europe, Asia Pacific countries - they're all in on modern industrial policy, which is based on a more active, interventionist state. energi.media/markham-on-ene…
22/Read this speech by USA Sec of Commerce Gina Riamondo @SecRaimondo. The USA has embraced industrial strategy and policy with gusto.
23/USA "has chosen to rely heavily on new industrial subsidies to reduce its emissions," says CANGov. "Canada has taken a market-driven approach to emissions reduction."
2/March 28 AER release: At March 16 meeting, AER Board of Directors "decided to commission an impartial, third-party review into certain aspects of the AER’s response to incidents at Imperial Oil’s Kearl facilities that took place between May 2022 and February 2023.
David Goldie
3/"Today, the board will issue a request for quotation (RFQ) seeking a qualified, impartial, 3rd-party" to conduct the review.
In "spirit of transparency" and to demonstrate "the regulator is both credible and trustworthy the findings of the review will be shared publicly."
1/🧵 about today's ABGov announcement re oil/gas unpaid taxes.
Thread contents:
1. What was announced
2. Transcript of interview with @pmclauchlin Pres of AB Rural Municipalities Assoc
3. Expert comments
4
2/What was announced:
Energy Minister @PeterGuthrie99 issued ministerial order under Responsible Energy Development Act requiring @AER_news to receive evidence that municipal taxes have been paid when approving licence transfers/new licences for oil cos. alberta.ca/release.cfm?xI…
3/“While most companies pay their taxes regularly and on time, there are a few delinquent companies that owe overdue property taxes...Our goal is to reduce unpaid taxes throughout the province.” - Guthrie
1/🧵 What the players are saying about the 5.3 million litre spill and the year-long leak at @ImperialOil's Kearl oil sands plant.
Bottom line: Regulatory failure by @AER_news, company affects @ACFN_KaiTaile people AND the industry's future.
2/The place to start is my thread explaining what leaked, when it leaked, when the spill occurred (the spill happened 9 mths after the leak), and how the AER and Imperial responded.
2/A leak of industrial wastewater from @ImperialOil's Kearl oil sands plant 70 kms north of Fort McMurray on May 19, 2022. Imperial reported it to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).
Area includes muskeg, forested public lands, wildlife, and a "fish-bearing waterbody."
3/"...from June to August 2022, w/regulatory oversight from the AER, Imperial conducted a geochemistry study to determine the source and pathway of Release 1..." which contained "dissolved iron, total arsenic, F2 hydrocarbons, sulphate, total sulphide..." aer.ca/providing-info…
2/The oil/gas industry is a master at crafting and controlling public/political/media narratives.
They use narrative to influence national conversations about energy ➡️ influences public opinion ➡️ dictates how much political space govts have to create policy.
3/Examples of oil/gas narratives.
Canada produces the most environmentally responsible oil/gas in the world.
CDN clean gas/LNG can help countries like China lower emissions from burning coal.
🧵: A thought experiment: If I was @ABDanielleSmith, how would I spend $20 billion on the #Alberta energy economy (instead of giving it to oil co.s to clean up old wells).
Public capital is scarce. We can't do everything. What SHOULD we do?
2/#1 - Boost Alberta Innovates funding (by a lot) of advanced materials research.
At the top of the list: Bitumen Beyond Combustion, especially the R&D to turn bitumen into carbon fibre.
ABI's plan includes more than just carbon fibre. Turn the scientists loose on this quest.
3/#2 - Significantly expand the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre in SE Calgary.
Don't bury CO2, turn it into concrete, cloth, soap, even vodka. China has a leg up on this burgeoning business, but US "friend-shoring" could benefit Alberta.