I would like to respond to inaccurate statements published in the Letters section of the Red Deer Advocate: Bill threatens property rights published Dec. 6.
The Carbon Capture and Storage Amendment Act, 2010, formerly Bill 24, received Royal Assent Thursday, Dec. 2. I want to stress that this law does not affect landowner rights or change ownership of mine and mineral resources in any way.
Ownership of pore space, where the carbon dioxide will be stored, had never been legally defined before this law defined it. The companies injecting carbon dioxide underground will need injection wells to do so. Companies will have to negotiate with landowners for access, as they would with any other well, and determine financial compensation for use of the land.
The four carbon capture and storage projects the Government of Alberta is investing $2 billion into will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by five million tonnes annually beginning in 2015.
The Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council estimates that using some of the captured CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) will generate up to $25 billion in royalties as it will help access oil from depleting reservoirs that couldn’t be extracted using traditional methods. The wealth generated by Alberta’s oil and gas industry helps to support health care, education and social programs all Albertans enjoy.
I would also like to address the other bills discussed in Doug Malsbury’s letter. This Government has supported the rural way of life for the past 40 years and will continue to do so. However, we have a responsibility to plan for the future of our province, and will always do so in a transparent, accountable and fair manner.
These laws ensure respect for landowner rights including fair negotiations, compensation and appeal. They are the tools that will help us ensure the infrastructure is in place that will support our growing population and economy.
Cal Dallas, MLA
Red Deer-South