Hours after the operators of the province’s power grid warned that new federal electricity regulations could lead to blackouts, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her government is preparing for the possibility of enacting her signature legislation in an effort to push back against Ottawa’s planned emissions reductions.
“We’re preparing a Sovereignty Act motion, and I’m hoping we don’t have to use it. That’s why we’re at the table having these negotiations,” Smith said, referring to a recently formed Alberta-Ottawa working group focused on emissions reductions.
“But we are going to defend our constitutional jurisdiction to make sure that we develop our oil and gas industry at our own pace, and that we develop our electricity system so that it achieves the goal of reliability and affordability.”
When asked at what point she would potentially invoke the act, Smith said she has continually said she would do so if Ottawa “comes through with emissions caps that are unconstitutional.”
If you want a taste of what happens when you run your own independent power grid just look at Texas, the state most closely in culture to Alberta. Power costs skyrocketing, unreliable power and no plan to increase power generation.
@Cobrachickenwing Alberta already has market-driven pricing, resulting in large manufacturers shutting down operations when the electricity costs outweigh potential profits from the manufactured goods. AB’s management here costs jobs.