Clean air bill wins tentative approval from energy sector

Alberta's energy sector has greeted Ottawa's proposed clean air act with muted relief, as industry representatives say they're pleased to have arole in how emissions targets are set.

The plan, unveiled Thursday by federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose, gives Canadian companies until 2020 to meet as-yet undetermined targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Pierre Alvarez, with the Canadian Association of Petroluem Producers, said the act is the broadest policy as they've seen, but still needs time to develop.

"Being comprehensive… we'll know where all the pieces fit together," he said.

"On the other hand, it's very complicated and it will touch every part of our industry and it's going to take some time to understand the implications."

A spokesperson for one of Alberta's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, TransAlta Corporation, says clear targets from Ottawa will help the company develop its longterm plan.

"We're anxious to get those nailed down," said Don Wharton, the company's director of sustainable development.

The Calgary-based power producer, which has been consulting with Ottawa for the past several months, wants to make its coal-fired plants carbon neutral by 2024.

"We're willing and wanting to work with the government to accelerate the development of those regulations as quickly as possible."

Alberta's environment minister says it's too soon to tell whether Ottawa's proposed clean air act will benefit his province, which in 2003 accounted for almost one-third of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions.

An estimated 35 per cent of that number came from the province's booming oil and gas sector, including the oil sands.

Guy Boutilier says he'll need to see more details before he can make that determination.

"But I want to say to you today that it is more realistic," he said. "This is the kind of discussion that Canadians are having in coffee shops around Canada. I believe it is on the right track."