CALGARY, Canada, July 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- CAD$2 billion Invested in Carbon Capture and Storage; CAD$2 Billion in Public Transit

The provincial government of Alberta, Canada is surging ahead on its climate change action plan with a CAD$4-billion investment in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The province has created a CAD$2-billion fund to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects while a second CAD$2-billion fund will propel energy-saving public transit.

"We're tackling both sides of the emissions challenge," said Premier Ed Stelmach. "We're reducing the impact of industrial emissions with carbon capture and storage and investing in public transit to reduce the impact from our tailpipes."

Stelmach said while other jurisdictions talk, his government's Climate Change Strategy has legislated real targets and real action. "We will continue to demonstrate leadership on the climate change file, while we continue to be a major supplier of energy resources that are developed in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way."

Funds will be allocated to encourage construction of Alberta's first large-scale CCS projects. With the potential to reduce emissions at facilities such as coal-fired electricity plants and oil sands extraction sites and upgraders, the CAD$2-billion fund will support CCS projects that are expected to reduce emissions by up to five million tonnes annually. That is the equivalent of taking a million vehicles off the road, or one-third of all vehicles registered in Alberta.

In addition, the equivalent of thousands more Alberta vehicles will be taken off streets and highways through CAD$2 billion in public transit investments. The Green Transit Incentives Program (Green TRIP) will promote the use of local, regional and inter-city public transit. The program will support new public transit alternatives throughout the province that will significantly reduce the number of vehicles on Alberta roads and reduce GHG emissions.

Alberta's Climate Change Action Plan, which will cut projected GHG emissions in half by 2050, is based on three key areas: carbon capture and storage; energy conservation and efficiency; and greening energy production.

More information on this announcement is available at: http://www.alberta.ca

For further information: Media inquiries may be directed to: Jason Chance, Alberta Energy Communications, +1-780-422-3667; Jerry Bellikka, Alberta Transportation Communications, +1-780-415-1841; Mark Cooper, Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Communications, +1-780-422-2465

For further information: Media inquiries may be directed to: Jason Chance, Alberta Energy Communications, +1-780-422-3667; Jerry Bellikka, Alberta Transportation Communications, +1-780-415-1841; Mark Cooper, Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Communications, +1-780-422-2465