Overview

This page provides information about the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system specific to the conventional oil and gas industry.

The Government of Canada will apply a federal fuel charge in Alberta beginning January 1, 2020 under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA). The fuel charge will apply to fossil fuels used in the province.

On January 1, 2020, the Government of Alberta is also introducing the TIER Regulation – the province’s improved approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial facilities which replaces the Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation.

The GGPPA includes provisions to exempt facilities regulated under provincial policies that meet federal criteria. TIER meets federal requirements and protects regulated facilities from the GGPPA, while achieving emissions reductions using an approach that is cost-efficient and tailored to Alberta’s industries and priorities.

The TIER regulation automatically applies to facilities that emitted 100,000 tonnes CO2e or more per year of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in 2016, or a subsequent year.

To protect industry from the costs of the federal fuel charge, the Government of Alberta is also allowing eligible conventional oil and gas facilities with less than 100,000 tonnes CO2e per year to opt in to the TIER system. Additional information about eligibility and the application process is available on this page.

A facility regulated under TIER may apply for an exemption from the federal GGPPA requirements and would only be subject to the compliance requirements of the provincial TIER system.

Regulation

Conventional oil and gas aggregation application

The owner of two or more conventional oil and gas facilities may apply to have those facilities regulated under the TIER regulation by applying to form a conventional oil and gas facility aggregate.

An aggregate facility is a combination of conventional oil and gas facilities that are treated as a single facility. The aggregate facility treatment streamlines the reporting and compliance process and simplifies the administrative requirements of the TIER system.

For the 2020 compliance year, an application must be received on, or before, September 1, 2020.

Federal fuel charge exemption application

As a person responsible for a facility regulated under TIER, you can register as an emitter with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Registering as an emitter with the CRA will allow you to obtain an exemption certificate, which you can provide to your fuel supplier(s). This will allow deliveries of fuel to be made to you without the application of the federal fuel charge at the time of delivery if the fuel is for use at your facility, or any of the individual facilities of your aggregate facility, subject to certain conditions.

Additional information on how to register as an emitter with the CRA:

Application for a facility-specific benchmark

Alberta Environment and Parks has changed the default 2020 benchmark year for conventional oil and gas facilities from 2019 to 2020. This means that true-up obligation for 2020 will be 10% of an aggregate facility’s stationary fuel combustion emissions.

As a result of this decision, regulated aggregate facilities are advised not to prepare and submit a TIER benchmark application in 2020 as 2020 compliance reporting will serve this purpose.

We will later communicate the method to submit your desired benchmark unit in early 2021 for confirmation by the department in advance of preparing your 2020 compliance report.

Additional information about the baseline years and benchmarking process for compliance year 2021 and beyond is still under consideration and will be communicated in a subsequent update.

General information about benchmarks for aggregate facilities can be found in the Standard for Developing Benchmarks.

Compliance reporting documents

All facilities are required to submit verified annual compliance reports yearly by June 30 of the following year. Reference materials will be available on this page.

Verification documents

Applications for facility specific benchmarks and compliance reports require third party verification.

Drafts for comment

The draft will be open for comment for 40 days. Comments must be submitted by end of day (11:59:59 pm MST) on July 4, 2020 and must be submitted by emailing a completed comment submission form to aep.ghg@gov.ab.ca. Questions about the draft document or comment period should be sent to the same email address.

Stakeholder presentations and other background information

Fact sheets:

Other reference materials:

Contact

Connect with Alberta Environment and Parks about the TIER regulation:
Email: aep.ghg@gov.ab.ca

Subscribe to the conventional oil and gas mailing list

This automatic email system distributes information specific to the conventional oil and gas sector with respect to the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction system to subscribers. This list and website are the primary sources of information and updates on greenhouse gas mitigation for Alberta's conventional oil and gas sector.

All fields are required unless otherwise indicated.

This information is collected so we may provide you with updates.

The email address you provide to Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) is collected under the authorization of Section 8 (1) (2) of the Government Organization Act, and is being managed in accordance with Section 33 (c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Submitting this information is strictly voluntary and by providing your email address you are giving AEP your permission to use your email address to subscribe to updates on AEP Conventional Oil and Gas Mailing List. Your email address will be shared in confidence with direct line Manager, Director and System Administrator. Your personal information will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose without your consent by AEP.

Should you wish to have your personal information removed, changed or have any further questions or concerns, please contact John Storey-Bishoff, Regulatory and Compliance at 780-644-7119.

To unsubscribe from this mailing list, email aep.ghg@gov.ab.ca

Related

Alberta Emission Offset System

Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation