Emera CEO 'unclear' how federal carbon pricing will affect power prices

When it comes to carbon pricing, put Emera CEO Chris Huskilson in the "we've done our bit" camp.

The headNova Scotia Power's parent companysaidTuesday it's "unclear" how federal carbon pricing plans will affect Nova Scotia ratepayers.

"Until it's clear what the federal government is asking of Nova Scotia, it's hard to give you a definitive answer," Huskilson toldreporters at an energy conference in Halifax.

Huskilson's uncertainty relates to the alternatives presented to Nova Scotia and other provinces by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's declarationon Monday that provinces eitheradopt a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, or have one imposed by 2018.

"We have a cap today on electricity emissions. They've talked about caps. I guess it's not possible at this stage to say exactly how our cap will relate to the cap the federal government is talking about," said Huskilson.

He says Nova Scotia Powerhas already its reduced emissions by 36 per centand is on track to reduce them by 58 per centby 2030. He says this willtranslateinto a 40 per cent overall reduction in carbon dioxide for the province by 2030, well above Ottawa's targets.

Huskilson's positionand confusion echoes that of the Nova Scotia government.

On Monday,Environment Minister Margaret Miller walked out of a meetingwith her federal and provincial counterparts, saying she was "struggling" to understand the statement deliveredearlier in the day by the prime minister.

Doubling down

There was no retreatTuesday.

Premier Stephen McNeil and his energy minister both reiterated that Nova Scotia is already the national leader in greenhouse gas reductions.

"We've gotten the announcement from the prime minister, but we are going to continue to press the case that the federal government recognize the work that has been done and is being [done]by this province," Energy Minister Michel Samson told reportersTuesday.

"We're still analyzing what the potential impact could be to Nova Scotians," Samson said.