June 4, 2010
Komarnicki Highlights Government Investment in Carbon Capture and Storage Technology During Late Night Estimates Debate
Ottawa (June 4, 2010) -Ed Komarnicki, Member
of Parliament for Souris-Moose Mountain and Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and
to the Minister of Labour participated in a late night estimates
debate on May 31, 2010, to discuss the government’s investment
in carbon capture and storage technology.
“The late night evening debate gave me an opportunity to highlight some of the exciting technology we have developing right in our own backyard in Souris- Moose Mountain with respect to carbon capture and storage,” said Komarnicki. “I emphasized the proposed Boundary Dam clean coal carbon capture and storage project in Estevan and the existing Weyburn-Midale carbon storage and enhanced oil recovery project which has been developing over the last decade.”
In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada committed $240 million to the Boundary Dam clean coal project. This will be one of the world’s first and largest commercial-scale clean coal and carbon capture and storage demonstration projects. Furthermore, Weyburn and Midale’s oilfields are hosts to a decade long international study examining CO2 geological storage. This project is one of the largest international CO2 measuring and monitoring projects in the world.
On the subject of carbon capture and storage, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, reported on some significant developments under the Canada-U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue. A joint carbon capture and storage working group has been established that is laying the groundwork for future investments in technology. He discussed the close link between researchers in both Canada and the U.S. and the work that is being done to develop compatible carbon capture and storage regulations to minimize business barriers and to facilitate possible future cross-border carbon capture and storage projects.
“It is my view that moving forward, Souris-Moose Mountain will remain on the leading edge of implementing world class carbon capture and storage technology,” said Komarnicki. “I will continue to press for future international projects that might affect future investment in our riding.”
A copy of a portion of the budgetary estimate debate is attached below for reference.
CANADA
House of Commons Debates
40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 052
CONTENTS
Monday, May 31, 2010
Mr. Ed Komarnicki (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour, CPC):
Mr. Chair, there is no doubt that in addition
to renewable energy, we can and must become cleaner producers
and consumers of our fossil fuel resources. It is clear that
technology will play a key role in meeting this challenge. One
very promising technology to achieve large emission reductions
is carbon capture and storage, known as CCS.
In total, the Government of Canada and the governments of Alberta,
Saskatchewan and British Columbia have provided $3.5 billion
in funding for carbon capture and storage. This does not include
the contributions of industry partners. In fact in budget 2008,
the Government of Canada committed $240 million to the Boundary
Dam clean coal project in my riding of Souris--Moose Mountain
in the southeast part of Saskatchewan. The province of Saskatchewan
will invest about $1 billion. This will be one of the world's
first and largest commercial-scale clean coal and carbon capture
and storage demonstration projects.
We also collaborate internationally to accelerate the development
of technology. As I have said, my riding of Souris--Moose Mountain
is on the leading edge of implementing world-class CCS technology.
We also collaborate through the United States-Canada clean energy
dialogue signed by the Prime Minister and President Obama last
year. Remarkably, a reference was made to work that is being
done with the North Dakota-Weyburn carbon capture and storage
project in my riding near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. I certainly
invite the member for Kings--Hants to visit Weyburn, Saskatchewan
to see first-hand what is being done.
The Weyburn and Midale oil fields are hosts to a decade long
international study examining CO2 geological storage. This project
near Weyburn, Saskatchewan is one of the largest international
CO2 measuring and monitoring projects in the world. It is world
class.
I would like to ask the minister what steps have been taken
under the dialogue with the United States to advance the development
of carbon capture and storage.
Hon. Christian Paradis:
Mr. Chair, I want to thank the hon. member for his question.
I am pleased to report a number of significant developments
relating to carbon capture and storage under the Canada-U.S.
clean energy dialogue. A joint CCS working group has been established
and is in the process of developing a North American carbon
capture and storage atlas. This will detail both the major sources
of CO2 emissions and potential CO2 storage reservoirs. This
information will help to ensure that future investments in technology
are well targeted.
We continue to reinforce and expand the links among researchers
in our two countries. We are working with the U.S. to develop
and demonstrate CO2 measuring, monitoring, and verification
methods. This will help to confirm that CO2 storage is both
safe and effective. It will build on the research under way
at the successful Weyburn-Midale carbon capture and storage
research project in Saskatchewan.
Mindful of the close energy connections between our two countries,
we are also working toward developing compatible carbon capture
and storage regulations to minimize business barriers and to
facilitate possible future cross-border CCS projects.
We have also agreed to hold an annual joint conference on carbon
capture and storage to facilitate information sharing on an
ongoing basis. In fact, the first conference was held earlier
this month in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
