Canada can clean carbon for cash at $50/ton – “There is no hiding from climate change”

The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that Canada would implement a Federal Carbon Tax if the provinces didn’t do so on their own. The plan states that if any province does not have a carbon tax or cap and trade system in place by 2018, the federal government will implement a plan to tax carbon starting at C$10/ton (US$7) and reaching $50/ton (US$35) by 2022. Speaking at the House of Commons, Trudeau said, “There is no hiding from climate change. It is real and it is everywhere. What we can do is make a real and honest effort — today and every day — to protect the health of our environment, and with it, the health of all Canadians.”

If you’re considering solar, get a quote from multiple contractors at understandsolar.com. If you want feedback on the quote you get – either email me at john @ 9to5mac dot com or send a tweet.

According to the Energy Fact Book of 2015-2016, Canada emitted 726Mt of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases. Canada’s total emissions at C$10/ton would generate $7.26B/year. Trudeau stated that the revenue would be stay in the provinces from where originated (thus a revenue neutral model). The tax would increase one liter of gasoline by about C$0.024 (US$.098/gallon) in 2018, while rising to C$0.118/liter (US$0.59/g) in 2022.

With “85% of Canada’s economy” under some sort of carbon dioxide regulation plan – a carbon tax is in place in British Columbia, and Ontario and Quebec are in a ‘Cap & Trade’ program – will come only with political work. The charts below illustrate some of the divides of Canada’s energy market.

• 25% of Canada’s greenhouse emissions are in the production of fossil fuels (much of which is shipped out of country to be burnt)
• 79.3% of Canada’s electricity comes from carbon free energy sources (Hydro/nuclear/renewables)
• Alberta produces almost 63% of the primary energy made in Canada

While the heavily populated, dense and relatively efficient provinces of Quebec and Ontario get by mostly on low carbon taxed electricity from dams and nuclear power – the less dense, less efficient further out populations will bear a higher per capita cost. Alberta’s position as producer of 63% of the primary energy showed in their position taken on Monday by Premier Rachel Notley when she said, “We can’t embrace that higher price until we get concrete action on the issue of a pipeline.” The pipeline is part of a lawsuit by Natives contesting its pathway through their land. Alberta, much like Exxon in the USA, has taken to public support of a carbon tax for very strategic revenue increasing reasons. Doubling the pinch from a carbon tax is that the very energy intensive tar sands production fields (remember – 25% of emissions come from the production of fossil fuels) are located in Alberta – a tax on the product you make and the process of making the product.

What Notley needs to tell the rest of Canada: No carbon tax in Alberta without support for a pipeline https://t.co/I43FEVvRHV pic.twitter.com/eXp0ujW0yk

— National Post (@nationalpost) September 26, 2016

Canada has shown in the past decade that it can grow the economy while lowering overall emissions, successes have been found. However, if Canada implements a revenue neutral carbon tax, without placing significant emphasis on technological advancement – a carbon tax will simply shuffle tax revenue sources without eliciting the needed change. What further actions are going to be taken to allow Canadians to benefit from the increased cost of fossil fuels? Will the Federal government mandate further investment in renewable energy sources? Expansion of Nuclear or Hydroelectric? High-voltage powerlines? Will there be incentives and Federal investment in electric or hydrogen cars? If no further action, it will be that shifted tax revenue that will be heating homes in winter time.

Featured Image: Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau enters his car after taking a tour of the West Block construction site on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick