Alberta announces carbon levy-funded programs to reduce oilpatch methane emissions

EDMONTON – Alberta has announced where it will spend part of the money it recently earmarked to reduce methane emissions from the oilpatch.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon says $25 million will be spent helping companies buy emissions reduction equipment.

Another $27 million will be spent helping companies find, repair and measure methane leaks.

The money will come from Alberta’s levy on industrial greenhouse gas emitters, a type of carbon tax.

Nixon says the program will help reach the province’s goal of reducing methane emission by 45 per cent below 2014 levels by 2025.

Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, about 25 times more so than carbon dioxide.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2020