Tell Alberta you want strong methane regulations

  • van: Environmental Defence
  • ontvanger: Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta; Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy; Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks and the Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office; Alberta Energy Regulator
There is a powerful greenhouse gas being wasted everyday in Alberta. It is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere in the short term. The gas is methane, and it is the primary component in natural gas.

Methane is often emitted with other even more toxic gases, like benzene, a known carcinogen. Albertans need to be protected from harmful releases of these toxic gases from nearby oil and gas facilities.

Both the federal and provincial governments have released different regulations on how to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. But, it doesn't look like Alberta's regulations will have much impact.

Here's what is missing from the plan.

  1. Regulatory oversight of industry. We are trusting that industry will self regulate and report accurately. How plausible is that!
  2. Lack of adequate site inspection of methane leaks.
  3. Delay in the adoption of emission free technology. 

Tell Premier Notley and the Alberta Government: We need strong methane regulations in Alberta too.
Dear Premier Notley, Minister McCuaig-Boyd, Minister Shannon Phillips and Alberta Energy Regulator,

The recently released draft regulations on methane emissions reductions don't go far enough to prevent methane leaks and venting. They also allow the oil and gas industry to police themselves.

Alberta has a methane problem and we need strong regulations to ensure industry is doing its part to stop leaks and venting and to capturing methane whenever possible.

Methane is far more dangerous than carbon dioxide in the short term but it is also far easier to reduce. Industry is already capturing methane in most other jurisdictions in North America, so it isn't a question of competitiveness. Dumping methane into the atmosphere is not free and we cannot ask future generations to pay for our inaction.

Alberta's methane regulations must include:

A full inventory of methane emissions in Alberta to create clarity and transparency on methane levels and where reductions are coming from
Site by site inspection 3 times per year
Adoption of emission free technology

You have asked us all to do our part in leading the country in climate action but the draft methane regulations do not go far enough to ensure conventional oil and gas companies are doing their fair share. Albertans have been dealing with methane leaks and venting for too long, suffering health and economic consequences in our backyards.

We have to create regulations that are at least as good as federal ones. Let's create a "Made-in-Alberta" plan that won't be questioned by the federal government on equivalency.

I want real methane reductions of 45 per cent by 2025.

Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
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