Thomas Marr-Laing
Globe and Mail
June 13, 2002

Letter to the Editor:

OTTAWA — Re Unfettered Electricity Markets Fuel Cynics In Alberta (June 6): Tom Adams of Energy Probe suggests that electricity deregulation in Alberta has helped the province move to a less coal-dependent power system. This offers a limited reflection of what’s really happening in this province.

While we have seen an increase in natural gas generation and wind power relative to coal since deregulation, more than 2,400 megawatts of new coal generation has been announced – half of this capacity has been approved and one plant is under construction.

Companies are more wary about placing 40-year bets on coal plants, so, to offset the economic uncertainty of deregulation, the provincial government and industry have agreed to weak (i.e. cheap) pollution-control standards.

In fact, Alberta is on a track to increase greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector by more than 80 per cent by 2010, with large increases in emissions of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, mercury and other pollutants as well.

The future of deregulation points to higher consumer prices, higher pollution and more coal.

Thomas Marr-Laing
Director, Energy Watch Program, Pembina Institute