The first time I read about CCS I actually laughed out loud. Somehow I'd assumed it would make some kind of usable carbon that we could bury to augment soil, but no. They're literally catching ~30% of the CO2 gas from an industry's tailpipe and putting the gas underground in an "airtight" chamber.
After facing pushback from Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada's draft net-zero electricity regulations — set to be released today — will permit some natural gas power generation, CBC News has learned.
A senior government source not authorized to speak publicly said that Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault will release Ottawa's proposed Clean Electricity Regulations on Thursday.
Remote and northern communities not connected to the main power grid, which tend to rely on diesel, won't have to suddenly switch to solar or wind, the source said, as there would be exceptions in those places.
Meanwhile, places like Ontario and Alberta can continue to rely on natural gas power generation if they meet the proposed performance standards set out in the regulations with technology like carbon capture.
Although there will be flexibility, the source noted how cost-competitive renewables have become with fossil fuels — something the provinces and territories are expected to have to weigh as aging infrastructure reaches end of life, and considerable new investment will be needed to meet demand.
As outlined in the 2023 federal budget, it's backed by a more than $40-billion commitment over the next decade to support Canada's clean electricity sector through tax measures, public financing and grant contributions.