CORP / TransAlta Supports Canada's New Greenhouse Gas Initiative
TSE, ASE, ME SYMBOL: TA
JUNE 3, 1998
CALGARY, ALBERTA--TransAlta Corporation strongly supports the
establishment of a national, market-driven effort to address
greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
Federal and provincial government departments announced the
creation of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading pilot
(GERT). The program will make it possible for Canadian businesses
and organizations to buy and sell greenhouse gas emission
reduction credits. Organizations that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions will get credits which can then be sold.
"Governments and industry in Canada are demonstrating their
leadership on global climate change by creating a pilot domestic
emissions reduction trading program," says Dr. Bob Page,
TransAlta's vice-president of Sustainable Development. "The
program recognizes that challenging environmental issues often
require innovative economic solutions."
Page, the former dean of Environmental Design at the University of
Calgary, added, "TransAlta has worked very hard to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions so we definitely will participate in
Canada's emissions reduction trading pilot."
In 1994, TransAlta committed to reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. TransAlta is on track
to reach its objective even though the company's production has
increased over the last five years. TransAlta also has been
involved in the national Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR)
program since it began. In 1996, the federal minister of Natural
Resources recognized TransAlta for its leadership and
participation in the VCR program.
TransAlta, a long-time advocate of a global, market-based approach
to address the greenhouse gas issue, also has initiated domestic
and international greenhouse gas offset programs, including: a
Saskatchewan soils project; building offset projects in Alberta;
and a project in India.
TransAlta is an energy company with $5 billion in assets,
operating in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and the
United States. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, TransAlta is the
major supplier of electricity in Alberta. The company also has
interests in gas and electricity distribution, independent
generation, energy services and energy marketing. TransAlta is
focused on providing its customers with innovative energy
solutions in an increasingly deregulated market.
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