Canada clean electricity strategy sets goal to double the grid by 2050, Carney says

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney presented a clean electricity strategy on Friday. Mark Carney said the plan aimed to double Canada’s power grid by 2050. Mark Carney also said it should reduce energy bills for most Canadian households. Mark Carney outlined the plan during a news conference in Ottawa.

Representative image

Mark Carney said Canada faced pressure from several directions. Mark Carney cited United States tariffs and higher energy prices linked to the war with Iran. Mark Carney also pointed to climate change impacts. Mark Carney said, "When the world fundamentally changes, we must respond with new approaches,\"

Clean electricity strategy includes electrification goals

Mark Carney linked the plan to wider economic and climate aims. Mark Carney said, \"The path to affordability is electrification, Carney told a news conference in Ottawa. The path to competitiveness is electrification. The path to net zero is electricity.\"

The strategy set out a broad supply mix for future growth. Mark Carney said it included hydro, nuclear, wind, and solar. Mark Carney also listed some gas, carbon capture, and geothermal power. Mark Carney said the plan included new partnerships with Indigenous people.

Clean electricity strategy shifts rules on natural gas

The plan included regulations that expanded the role of natural gas. Those rules aimed to support building out the electricity grid. Mark Carney said, \"The scale is huge, the timeline is short and the task of getting the right mix of power is complex,\" Mark Carney added, \"We cant simply rely on restrictions and prohibitions. We must do things differently.\"

Construction for the expanded grid was expected to cost more than CAD 1 trillion. That total was also listed as CAD 730 billion. The government forecast that 130,000 new workers would be needed. The extra staff would support the effort to double grid size.

Clean electricity strategy replaces Trudeau-era clean electricity regulations

The strategy marked a change from the former Liberal government’s approach. The earlier plan came under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It aimed to decarbonise Canada’s grid by 2050. It set limits on carbon dioxide from most fossil fuel power units.

Electricity made up about 7 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse emissions. That share fell over the last 15 years. Many provinces reduced or ended coal power use. The new strategy focused on expanding supply and shifting more uses to electricity.

Clean electricity strategy funding details remain unclear

The strategy did not state how much the government would spend. It mentioned possible tax credits and a return of energy-saving retrofits. The retrofits could cover up to a million households. The plan did not provide a total budget for the full grid buildout.

The Canadian Climate Institute said the strategy moved in a helpful direction. The group also said key parts stayed unclear or were missing. Dale Beugin said, \"Ultimately, the success of the strategy will depend on details of how - and how swiftly - the government follows through on expanding clean power generation, transmission and widespread electrification,\"

With inputs from PTI