THE RULING IDEAS, ARE THE IDEAS OF THE RULING CLASS
Author of the article:Chris Varcoe • Calgary Herald
Publishing date:Jul 14, 2021 •
An oil drilling platform is seen next to wind turbines at Vamcruz Windfarm in Serra do Mel, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. PHOTO BY YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP VIA GETTY
The energy transition is gaining traction and changing attitudes across the country — including in Alberta.
A new national poll shows support for oil and gas remains solid in the province, while a majority of Albertans also back wind and solar developments.
The survey by the Angus Reid Institute indicates 54 per cent of Canadians believe investing in alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, solar and wind should be a priority for addressing Canada’s energy supply.
In Alberta, that figure sits at one-third.
Investing instead in oil, natural gas and coal production is the priority for 21 per cent of Albertans, compared with 12 per cent nationally.
However, nearly half of Albertans — 46 per cent — believe both areas should be given equal priority, compared with 34 per cent nationally.
“This data shows us there is a mindset that is tilting, maybe not to the same degree or quite as far as the rest of the country, toward green, but it is happening in Alberta as well,” said institute president Shachi Kurl.
“You will see the highest support for oil and gas operations in Alberta than you will in any other part of the country — with the exceptions of Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador — but at the same time, you see high levels of support for renewables in Alberta . . . To an outsider, that might seem surprising. But I think Albertans have been beyond the all-or-nothing aspect of this for a while.”
Indeed, when asked if they support the expansion of different forms of energy, three-quarters of Alberta respondents backed the oil and gas sector, compared with almost half of Canadians, while support was lowest in Quebec at only one-third.
The energy transition is gaining traction and changing attitudes across the country — including in Alberta.
A new national poll shows support for oil and gas remains solid in the province, while a majority of Albertans also back wind and solar developments.
The survey by the Angus Reid Institute indicates 54 per cent of Canadians believe investing in alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, solar and wind should be a priority for addressing Canada’s energy supply.
In Alberta, that figure sits at one-third.
Investing instead in oil, natural gas and coal production is the priority for 21 per cent of Albertans, compared with 12 per cent nationally.
However, nearly half of Albertans — 46 per cent — believe both areas should be given equal priority, compared with 34 per cent nationally.
“This data shows us there is a mindset that is tilting, maybe not to the same degree or quite as far as the rest of the country, toward green, but it is happening in Alberta as well,” said institute president Shachi Kurl.
“You will see the highest support for oil and gas operations in Alberta than you will in any other part of the country — with the exceptions of Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador — but at the same time, you see high levels of support for renewables in Alberta . . . To an outsider, that might seem surprising. But I think Albertans have been beyond the all-or-nothing aspect of this for a while.”
Indeed, when asked if they support the expansion of different forms of energy, three-quarters of Alberta respondents backed the oil and gas sector, compared with almost half of Canadians, while support was lowest in Quebec at only one-third.
Support in Alberta was also high for solar (69 per cent in favour) and wind farms (60 per cent), although below national levels.
And nuclear power garnered the support of 62 per cent of people in the province.
“Even in Alberta, the numbers moving toward renewable energy are climbing and climbing rapidly,” said political scientist Duane Bratt of Mount Royal University.
“Even in Alberta, the numbers moving toward renewable energy are climbing and climbing rapidly,” said political scientist Duane Bratt of Mount Royal University.
“There is a growing climate realization. To me, that’s the story
— not that there are big (differences) between Quebec and Alberta.”
The online poll of 4,948 Canadians, conducted in the first week of June, comes as another federal election is looming. Energy and climate policies were major battling points during the 2019 campaign and the survey highlights the shifting terrain in the debate.
The Trudeau government has established the national goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and set aggressive new targets to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The oil and gas industry is changing, too.
Oilsands producers including Suncor Energy, Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, Imperial Oil and MEG Energy recently formed an alliance to work together to reach net-zero emissions from their operations within three decades.
A number of companies are actively examining hydrogen projects or carbon capture, utilization and storage initiatives.
For example, Shell Canada announced Tuesday a proposal to construct a large-scale carbon capture and storage project at its Scotford refinery complex near Edmonton.
“The oil and gas sector is hearing this message and they are making movements,” said Bratt.
“If you can increase the amount you are selling at the same time you are reducing the overall carbon footprint, what’s wrong with that?”
A photovoltaic power plant in Piolenc, southern France, on July 30, 2019. PHOTO BY GERARD JULIEN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
At the same time, more new renewable energy developments are popping up across the province, such as the country’s largest solar photovoltaic project being built in Vulcan County.
A series of deals have been announced this year, with high-profile companies such as Amazon and Labatt Breweries of Canada inking partnership agreements to acquire wind and solar power from renewable power generators.
In the past two years, more than $2 billion of renewable power projects have been announced in the province.
“There is absolutely no doubt today that Alberta is the prime market for new renewable investment in the country,” said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
Hornung pointed out costs for wind and solar technology have dropped by between 70 to 90 per cent over the past decade, the province has strong resources to harness the energy and Alberta’s deregulated market structure is able to attract interest from corporations seeking to acquire renewable power.
The poll did find notable provincial splits over energy views.
When asked about energy policy in Canada, 31 per cent of respondents selected energy independence as their priority among five options — including 44 per cent in Alberta — while 27 per cent chose environmental protection.
However, in British Columbia and Quebec, protecting the environment was the top issue.
Of the different policy options, 11 per cent said economic growth should be the top choice, led by 22 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 17 per cent in Alberta.
“It reflects what people see as their bread and butter,” said Keith Stewart, Greenpeace Canada’s senior energy strategist.
“We really need the federal government to step up with a just transition program that acknowledges actually some parts of the country — Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland — are going to face challenges in a world that is moving away from fossil fuels.”
We’ll soon see if those issues are discussed on the campaign trail.
“In terms of the mindset, we are in a transition place,” added Kurl.
“The conversation has been mired so long in green or not green . . . Now, I think the next steps will really be around, ‘OK how do we get there and what does it look like.’ ”
Chris Varcoe is a Calgary Herald columnist.
At the same time, more new renewable energy developments are popping up across the province, such as the country’s largest solar photovoltaic project being built in Vulcan County.
A series of deals have been announced this year, with high-profile companies such as Amazon and Labatt Breweries of Canada inking partnership agreements to acquire wind and solar power from renewable power generators.
In the past two years, more than $2 billion of renewable power projects have been announced in the province.
“There is absolutely no doubt today that Alberta is the prime market for new renewable investment in the country,” said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
Hornung pointed out costs for wind and solar technology have dropped by between 70 to 90 per cent over the past decade, the province has strong resources to harness the energy and Alberta’s deregulated market structure is able to attract interest from corporations seeking to acquire renewable power.
The poll did find notable provincial splits over energy views.
When asked about energy policy in Canada, 31 per cent of respondents selected energy independence as their priority among five options — including 44 per cent in Alberta — while 27 per cent chose environmental protection.
However, in British Columbia and Quebec, protecting the environment was the top issue.
Of the different policy options, 11 per cent said economic growth should be the top choice, led by 22 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 17 per cent in Alberta.
“It reflects what people see as their bread and butter,” said Keith Stewart, Greenpeace Canada’s senior energy strategist.
“We really need the federal government to step up with a just transition program that acknowledges actually some parts of the country — Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland — are going to face challenges in a world that is moving away from fossil fuels.”
We’ll soon see if those issues are discussed on the campaign trail.
“In terms of the mindset, we are in a transition place,” added Kurl.
“The conversation has been mired so long in green or not green . . . Now, I think the next steps will really be around, ‘OK how do we get there and what does it look like.’ ”
Chris Varcoe is a Calgary Herald columnist.
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