July 18, 2005 - Edmonton - EPCOR has acquired 60,000 tonnes of emission offsets plus the rights to an additional 500,000 tonnes that are expected to be created over the next eight years at Taylor NGL Limited Partnership's Turin sour gas processing plant in southern Alberta.
"We're delighted," said Whitney Rockley, EPCOR Director of Environment and Analytics. "This agreement shows the kind of synergies that can be achieved by both the electricity and oil and gas sectors. EPCOR believes we can achieve made-in-Canada solutions to climate change, and this project shows the potential of geological sequestration." EPCOR has also announced an open Request for Proposals for further greenhouse gas offsets.
Taylor's Turin sour gas processing plant receives wellhead natural gas from an extensive gathering system that connects approximately 600 wells to the plant. The raw natural gas is processed to remove CO2 and H2S (acid gas) and other components. The recovered acid gas, which contains in excess of 95% CO2, is compressed and transported by pipeline to an injection well for disposal in a depleted natural gas reservoir.
Approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of CO2 will be stored this way on an annual basis.
Another 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year in emission reductions is created through reduced natural gas flaring.
Under the agreement EPCOR:
- Has acquired 60,000 tonnes of CO2 offsets in 2005
- Has the option to acquire an additional 10,000 tonnes of CO2 offsets this year
- Has the option to acquire 70,000 tonnes of CO2 offsets annually through 2012.
Removing 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere is equivalent to taking nearly 14,000 vehicles off the road for a year.
The emissions offsets are being quantified consistent with Environment Canada's CO2 Capture and Geological Storage Quantification Protocol and will undergo a third party independent audit later this year. Emissions trading is promoted under the Kyoto Protocol as an environmentally sound means for countries to cost effectively meet their emissions reduction target.
Through offsets and advanced technology, the recently commissioned Genesee Phase 3, owned by EPCOR and TransAlta, will have greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to a natural gas combined-cycle facility.
"EPCOR has been active creating, purchasing and trading greenhouse gas offsets for ten years," added Rockley, "and we continue to look for new projects. We're hopeful the Request for Proposal for additional greenhouse gas reduction projects results in more made-in-Canada success stories."
Baseline Emissions Management Inc. of Calgary acted as advisor to Taylor on matters pertaining to the transfer of emission credits to EPCOR.
About EPCOR Utilities Inc.
EPCOR Utilities Inc. is one of Canada's top providers of energy and energy-related services and products, providing power and water solutions to customers in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Drawing on over 100 years of experience, EPCOR builds, owns and operates power plants, electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and infrastructure.
EPCOR has been named one of Canada's Top 100 employers for five consecutive years, and was the 2004 Overall Winner of the Conference Board of Canada/Spencer Stuart National Award in Governance. With over $4 billion in assets, EPCOR is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta.
About Taylor NGL Limited Partnership
Taylor NGL Limited Partnership owns and operates the RET Complex that includes the Retlaw, Enchant and Turin gas processing plants, the Harmattan Complex and the Joffre Extraction Plant, all in Alberta, and the Younger Extraction Plant in British Columbia. The Partnership also owns two natural gas liquids pipelines in Alberta, the Ethylene Delivery System and the Joffre Feedstock Pipeline, both of which move products between Joffre, Alberta and Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. The Joffre and Younger plants are natural gas liquids extraction facilities that produce ethane, propane, butane and condensate. The RET Complex and the Harmattan Complex are natural gas processing facilities that provide services to oil and gas producers.
Contacts:
Doug Downs
EPCOR
780.412.3780
Gordon Salahor
Taylor NGL Limited Partnership
403.781.8184