Questions & Answers

Q&A with Energy Player: David Butler

David Butler is the Calgary-based executive director of the Canadian Clean Power Coalition (CCPC). Energize Alberta asked him to take readers inside the world of coal-fired power generation.

ENERGIZE ALBERTA: Briefly describe the focus of the CCPC.

DAVID BUTLER: The CCPC’s mandate is to research, develop, and advance commercially viable technologies that lower power plant emissions. Our objective is to find ways to generate electricity from coal that effectively and economically address environmental issues—including CO₂ emissions—and move us forward to a cleaner energy future. The CCPC believes that a diverse portfolio of energy supply options, including fossil fuels and renewables, will ensure a stable and economical source of electricity for Canada.

EA: Given the abundance of North American coal resources, what is the CCPC’s take on the challenge coal-fired power generation faces as a central part of our future energy mix?

DB: The cleaner coal technology exists, but the costs to implement them are not economically feasible. That’s where public policy will have to play a role. With regulatory certainty, companies can make decisions regarding whether to build new coal plants or whether existing plants should be retired or retrofitted with technologies to lower emissions.

EA: Given the extent of coal-fired power generation worldwide, can Canada be a global leader in terms of best practices relative to setting standards for the responsible use of coal resources?

DB: Canada is a global leader in this regard. The CCPC and its members have spent more than $50 million to find ways to generate electricity from coal that effectively and economically address environmental issues. The Alberta and federal governments have sponsored four large carbon capture and storage projects, that when built will store more CO₂ from industrial applications than any other country in the world. The knowledge gained from these initiatives is helping leaders set reasonable standards for the use of coal resources.

EA: Where will the first CPCC demonstration plants be built? When will they be operational?

DB: CCPC members are advancing several commercial-scale projects. TransAlta and Capital Power are planning to build Project Pioneer to capture one megatonne per year of CO₂ from the Keephills 3 facility by 2015. Basin Electric is completing a $6-million study to consider capturing one megatonne per year of CO₂ from the Antelope Coal facility in the next several years. SaskPower, the principal supplier of electricity in Saskatchewan, is progressing with its $1.4-billion Boundary Dam project to capture one megatonne per year of CO₂.

EA: Will these plants prove up the case for “clean coal” technology?

DB: Most power projects that include CCS are designed to reduce CO₂ emissions by 90 per cent. This makes the emissions from clean coal plants much cleaner than any power plant operating on natural gas. However, most carbon capture technologies are very expensive, and until new advances are commercialized, will require significant government subsidization before they can proceed.

EA: Do you think Canadians need to be more “literate” in terms of understanding the role of coal in their energy mix?

DB: It is important to not only understand the role coal plays in our energy mix—for example, about two-thirds of Alberta’s electricity is generated from coal—it’s important to understand what is being done to ensure that, through technology, those vast resources can be used to provide cleaner power. What is also important is an awareness that new technologies for cleaner power production, whether from coal or renewables, come with a price. Canadians need to be aware of what these new technologies cost and the impact it will have on them as consumers.

EA: How can they best move forward on that literacy path?

DB: We would encourage people to find out more about the costs and nature of carbon capture technologies and the implications of proposed greenhouse gas regulations. The CCPC aims to be a credible, fact-based source of information to help people learn more these subjects. Please visit us at www.canadiancleanpowercoalition.com.

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