Yup....Rachel is the one looking out for Albertans.
Quote:
This is a story about how Alberta electricity consumers have been saddled with an estimated $2 billion in unnecessary costs because our Government made three mistakes in dealing with the Power Purchase Arrangements ("PPA's). The story's not just about the PPAs though. It's also about how our elected representatives in the Alberta Government used their position of power and access to taxpayer funds to attempt to achieve their political objective of avoiding accountability for having poorly managed the PPA issue.
In a June 25, 2016 Financial Post article reporting on Minister's Phillips announcement of an increase in carbon tax on large emitters, include coal-fired electricity generators, she is quoted as saying:
"Some would argue we are are moving too far and too fast. I say to them that more of the same would be the worst thing we could do for our energy economy and for the future of our province."
Had the Premier, the Minister of Environment and Parks, or the Minister of Energy done even a small amount of homework, such as seeking advice from civil servants within the Alberta Government who were well versed on the PPAs or engaging in meaningful consultations with the four PPA Buyers, they would have quickly learned two very important things:
1) this higher carbon tax on large emitters would cause Alberta's coal-fired generation plants to be unprofitable or more unprofitable; and
2) the coal-fired plants are subject to an Alberta law called the Power Purchase Arrangements Determination Regulation that says if the Government changes the law (i.e. increases the carbon tax on coal-fired generation plants) and this causes the coal-fired generation plants to be unprofitable or more unprofitable, then a government agency named the Balancing Pool, could be required to assume ownership of these unprofitable PPAs from the original PPA Buyers.
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A sobering read and well laid out.
The ineptitude on this one single issue should be enough for people to admit this gang of clowns should be no where near making decisions that affect every single person in this province. An utter disaster.
https://www.robhemstockalbertappa.com/