Alberta sets greenhouse gas emissions target

Beginning July 1, Alberta will requireindustry to meet a greenhouse gas emissions reductiontarget, which comesseveral years ahead of Ottawa's 2010 legislation on climate change.

But Alberta's environment minister said Monday businesses should not be worried about competing environmental policies from different levels of government.

Large companies in Albertaemitting more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year will haveto reduce their annual emissions intensityby 12 per cent. If they don't, they will have to pay $15 per tonne above the 12 per cent target, whichwill go into a technology fund.

Emissions intensity refers to a measurementin relationto economic output, so a decrease may not refer to an absolute reduction if production expands.

Environment Minister Rob Renner said that despite the timing, his department continues to work with the federal government.

But speaking onCBC's Calgary Eyeopeneron Mondaymorning, Renner said Alberta has a long track record of regulating its own environmental policies.

TheStelmach government feels strongly that it should be in control of its own environmental policies, Renner said.And he stressed that Alberta will work with and not for Ottawa.