Alberta Climate Summit sees heated exchanges over net-zero, battery power
Posted Oct 27, 2023 11:04 am.
Last Updated Oct 28, 2023 7:45 am.
Whether or not Alberta can reach a net-zero electricity grid by 2035 was the big question at the 2023 Alberta Climate Summit Thursday night.
Premier Danielle Smith took to the stage to talk about all the work being done to reduce emissions in Alberta, but re-stated her reasons why she thinks 2035 is far too soon.
Initially, Smith started her time on stage by sharing all of the exciting new clean energy projects popping up across the province.
She also talked about how Alberta doesn’t get enough credit for the moves being made towards relying on clean energy, noting the province was the first to invest a massive amount into carbon capture and storage.
But, the conversation got a bit heated when the premier was challenged by an audience member asking if the province could rely on battery power during times of low renewable generation.
Despite the efforts of the host to move on from the topic, the conversation ensued.
LISTEN: Premier Danielle Smith on a ‘reliable energy grid’
danielle smith on a ‘reliable energy grid’
“There are long stretches in winter where we can go weeks without wind or solar,” Smith said. “That is the reason we need legitimate, real solutions that rely on baseload power rather than fantasy thinking, and I am not going to engage in fantasy thinking and say something is possible when I know that my principle job…”
“I think we need to stop,” the host interjected.
But, the premier continued, “My principle job is to have a reliable energy grid, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Smith’s stance on the goal is no secret, especially with the province’s nation-wide ad campaign suggesting the 2035 goal would lead to sky-high prices and power outages.
LISTEN: Premier Danielle Smith on batteries
Danielle Smith on a ‘reliable energy grid’
“What do you know that my industry experts don’t know? What do I do when there’s no sun and there’s no wind?” Smith asked the audience member. “Batteries? Let’s talk about batteries because I’ve talked to somebody — I want to talk about batteries for a minute because I know everybody thinks this economy is going operated on wind and solar and battery power — and it cannot.”
Alberta’s United Conservative government is instead pushing for a 2050 net-zero goal.
The premier noted the net-zero projects already underway in the province, including the Heidelberg net-zero cement plant in Edmonton.
“That was not a policy before I came in, it was not a policy of our government to be net-zero by 2050,” Smith said. “So, we have brought our entire populous onboard, our province on board, my caucus on board, our members on board with the notion that we can align with the federal government on a 2050 target.
“But you can’t then just say ‘Oh, well we got you at 2050, now we want you to do 2030,’ that’s not reasonable,” she added.
Federal energy minister Jonathan Wilkinson was also in the crowd at the event in Calgary.
After Smith’s time, he took to the stage to call the net-zero target “do-able.”
Opposition leader Rachel Notley took to social media following the event, saying the premier’s comments “cut down” the people at the summit and accused her of showing poor leadership.
