CanWEA Applauds Federal Government Action to Accelerate Decarbonization of Canada’s Electricity Supply

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) applauds today’s announcement by the Federal Government of new actions to reduce the carbon intensity of electricity production in Canada. These measures will open up new opportunities for wind energy in Canada and will enhance Canada’s ability to compete for renewable energy investment as the world transitions to a low carbon economy in response to climate change.

“The Federal Government’s commitment to phase-out greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired electricity generation by 2030 will bring important health and climate benefits to Canadians,” says Robert Hornung, CanWEA President. “As the most cost-competitive source of new renewable electricity generation in Canada, wind energy will play a critical role in replacing that power by providing reliable and affordable electricity that will enable the Federal Government to meet its goal that 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity will be carbon free by 2030.”

While Canada’s electricity system is currently 83 per cent non-greenhouse gas emitting, Canada’s abundant renewable energy resources make it possible for Canada to move to a near zero greenhouse gas emissions electricity grid over time. Meeting this longer-term objective will require natural-gas fired electricity to be used strategically (e.g., as an enabler of renewable energy) in a manner that will also decline over time. This will be important because meeting Canada’s climate change commitments under the Paris agreement will ultimately require further increases in non-greenhouse gas emitting electricity production beyond 2030 and the use of that electricity to substitute for fossil fuels in transportation, heating and cooling and industrial processes through increased electrification.

“The Federal Government has also made it clear that it is willing to use the new Canada Infrastructure Bank to invest in critical infrastructure like new transmission lines that will enable the increased penetration of renewable electricity into Canada’s grid,” says Hornung. “Taken together, these actions make it clear that Canada is serious about decarbonizing its electricity grid and sends a clear signal to investors that Canada will be an increasingly attractive destination for renewable energy investment in the future.”