REGINA, Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Carmen Dybwad, CEO of IPAC-CO2 Research Inc., welcomed today's announcement that the Government of Canada is moving forward with regulations for the coal-fired electricity sector.
IPAC-CO2 works to gain public and regulator confidence in the geological storage of carbon dioxide as a sustainable energy and environmental option by providing independent performance assessments of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.
"This is great news for the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) industry because it eliminates regulatory uncertainty in Canada," she said after Environment Minister Peter Kent made the announcement at the Shand power plant near Estevan, Sask.
"We can now all roll up our sleeves and continue to work together to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Minister Kent said the proposed regulations will apply a stringent performance standard to new coal-fired electricity generation units and those coal-fired units that have reached the end of their economic life.
"This will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for all Canadians for generations to come," he said.
"We are taking action in the electricity sector because we recognize the potential for significant emissions reductions. We are committed to build on our strength in the electricity sector and to lead the world in clean electricity generation."
The new Canadian standard will be based on parity with the emissions performance of high-efficiency natural gas generation. The standard will promote the replacement of coal-fired units that are reaching the end of their economic life, and will encourage investment in cleaner generation technologies, such as high efficiency natural gas generation and renewable energy, as well as the use of carbon capture and storage.
"We support all methods of tackling climate change," Dydwad said. "However, we believe the only sure bet is to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the game by storing it deep underground. That's why we exist: to ensure it's safe to do so."
"We agree with the Canadian environment minister's conclusion that the new regulations will ensure Canada remains a world leader in clean electricity generation," she said.
IPAC-CO2 was established in 2009 as not-for-profit organization to meet the needs of industry, regulators, and the public.
CCS has been identified by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of the most promising near term technologies for the rapid reduction of global CO2 emissions.
SOURCE IPAC-CO2 Research Inc.
