Public Engagement: Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction System

Initiative: 
Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system
Deadline: 
2 Aug 2019

Alberta Environment and Parks is seeking feedback on their proposed Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system. From the Public Engagement page:

Overview

We’re asking Albertans and industry stakeholders for feedback on the proposed Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system to make sure it's designed to meet the needs of Alberta's environment and economy.

TIER is an improved way to manage emissions from large industries like oil and gas, which account for more than half of Alberta's total greenhouse gas emissions. The new system would encourage energy-intensive facilities to find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to stay competitive. It's intended to replace the current Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation on January 1, 2020.

TIER is a realistic approach to addressing climate change that will reduce emissions and reassure investors without overregulating and slowing the economy. The proposed system is the centrepiece of Alberta’s approach to climate change, which government will provide further details on in fall 2019. While there are other policies currently being reviewed by government, the scope of this engagement is primarily focused on the TIER system.

Get involved

Your input is required on the following topics to help design the new TIER system:

  • emissions coverage and threshold
  • criteria for opt-in/opt-out provisions
  • how to treat new facilities and best-in-class facilities
  • compliance flexibility
  • fund credit price
  • treatment of conventional oil and gas producers below the emissions threshold
  • TIER Fund design for innovation funding
  • reporting and verification requirements
  • Cost Containment Program
  • regulatory review frequency

Provide your feedback

  1. Read the TIER Discussion Document
    • The discussion document outlines the proposed policy changes expected under the TIER system compared to the current Carbon Competitiveness Incentives Regulation. Line numbers in the left column help stakeholders provide comments on specific sections of the Discussion Document using the Stakeholder Feedback Form.
  2. Fill out the TIER Stakeholder Feedback Form
  3. Send the completed form to [email protected] by August 2, 2019

The ministers of Environment and Parks, Agriculture and Forestry, and Energy are meeting with a variety of industry stakeholders throughout July.

How TIER would work

Under the proposed system, facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide would have to reduce their emissions intensity by 10% compared to their average emissions between 2016 and 2018. The reduction requirement would increase by 1% per year, starting in 2021.

To meet the requirements of the proposed system, facilities would have the following options:

  • reduce their emissions
  • use credits from facilities that have met and exceeded their emission reduction targets
  • use emissions offsets from organizations that are not regulated by TIER, but have voluntarily reduced their emissions
  • pay into a TIER Fund

The TIER Fund would be used for new and cleaner Alberta-based technologies that reduce emissions, like improved oilsands extraction methods and research and investment in carbon capture, utilization and storage. It would also be used to reduce Alberta’s deficit and support the province’s energy war room.

TIER also proposes that electricity facilities meet a good-as-best gas standard, where their emissions are equal to the cleanest natural gas-fired generation plant.

Outcomes

Your feedback will help inform the development of the new TIER system and regulations, which are expected to be in place on January 1, 2020.