aurie patricio@anchirman:
too late. with the little rain we got, the ucp has decided to make sure industry has unlimited use of our water.
@JennyYeremiy:
Wow, I just discovered this North America drought monitor map. Please do not listen to those who are celebrating the recent rain… it is NOT enough. We must plan for less and stop wasting water, there are alternatives for the oil and gas industry.
@SeditiousMe:
The vast majority of drought in Canada seems concentrated in what province?
Major Annoyance… abresistance.ca@MJJohns89100431:
And here we go again. The Athabasca Glacier is the source of the North Saskatchewan, Athabasca, Columbia and Fraser Rivers. It is shrinking at an alarming rate. Those rivers supply water to most of the prairies. Smith is giving $50M for 3 new water intake facilities for industry.
@IanDJbrown2:
Heh Alberta!
So that $50 million for three new water intakes on the North Saskatchewan river is only 30% of the cost! Those are very large intakes!
Surprise- it seems to be targeted at supporting petrochemical industries!
My first issue-some of the water will be treated and returned to the river.
While it’s wonderful that the river will have some water put back, we all know how that treated water affects downstream users—see Fort Chipewyan for that.
Second issue- my/our tax dollars are being used to support a very rich industry?!? Again!
Having seen this before I want you to ask yourself, why is our Alberta government stepping in to put our funds into a very environmentally detrimental program? I have an answer.
Making this a government project, approvals are much a given
I’ll ask all of us, how do we honestly feel about our neighbors that use the river for water downstream including drinking?
How do we feel about financing the oil and gas industry, polluting and raking in $$billions?
@barehair:
No surprise at all. Dani will do anything to support O&G
and anyone very rich anyway she can
Alberta government spendinggiving $50M on 3 new water intake facilities, Water will be pulled from the North Saskatchewan River for industrial use by Acton Clarkin, CBC News, May 17, 2024
The Alberta government is spending $50.5 million over five years to cover up to 30 per cent of construction and associated infrastructure costs for three new water intake facilities.
The facilities will serve projects operating in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH), which is the province’s first and currently only Designated Industrial Zone (DIZ).
The province’s website defines DIZs as areas “targeted for strategic investment and development of clustered industrial development and economic diversification.”
The Industrial Heartland, northeast of Edmonton, is 582 square kilometres in size. It extends into five different municipalities, including the cities of Fort Saskatchewan and Edmonton and the counties of Lamont, Strathcona and Sturgeon. The government says the water intakes will be located in those three counties, and will pull water from the North Saskatchewan River.
In a press conference announcing the provincial funding on Thursday, Alberta’s minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, said new water intakes are needed to keep expanding AIH.
“This will help attract world-leading industrial projects right here in the Industrial Heartland and ensure we have the infrastructure to support them,” said Schulz.
“Water is critical for industry. They need it to operate.”
Schulz said there are currently no projects in the DIZ that would require the use of a new water intake facility. But the chair of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, David Diduck, says the plan to build three new ones is a strong business decision.
“It will provide dependable access to low-cost water while simultaneously ensuring shared use of infrastructure across new users,” said Diduck.
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk is the MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville. AIH is within those boundaries. Armstrong-Homeniuk wants to see more industrial projects there.
“The Heartland already provides approximately 30,000 direct and indirect jobs,” said Armstrong-Homeniuk.
“This means ever more jobs in my constituency and opportunities for those moving here.”
‘My guess is there’s going to be pretty high return flows’
The provincial government says all projects within Designated Industrial Zones must follow certain environmental standards.
“As part of the DIZ, rigorous environmental protection and management measures are in place, including an air emissions requirement policy, enhanced guidance for air modelling, and a water quality management program,” reads a press release from Thursday.
Minister Schulz says new water intake facilities will help grow the petrochemical sector, which includes many of the companies already operating in AIH.
Alain Pietroniro is a University of Calgary civil engineering professor with expertise in water resources engineering. He says it’s common for much of the water used in petrochemical operations to be recycled, and that large amounts are eventually treated before going back to the source.
“In this case here, my guess is there’s going to be pretty high return flows.”
Thursday’s provincial press release says “A significant emphasis is being placed on the expanded use of reclaimed water by industry to help maximize water supply and reduce the environmental impact.”
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association@ABheartland:
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland has 50 million more reasons to invest in our region.
The Government of Alberta’s $50 million investment towards improved water infrastructure in the Industrial Heartland will create long-lasting and environmentally responsible economic growthImpossible. There’s no such thingin our region.
Alberta investing Giving$50 million over five years for water intakes at Industrial Heartland by Zac Delaney, May 17, 2024, MSN
The sprawling Alberta Industrial Heartland north of Fort Saskatchewan received a financial boost from the provincial government on Thursday.
At a news conference in Sturgeon Country, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz said the province will be kicking in more than $50 million over the next five years to support the Alberta Industrial Heartland’s designated industrial zone. The designated area north of Edmonton was created by the provincial government in October 2022 as a hub with a goal of expediting and optimizing industrial operations in the area and the province.
“This will help attract world leading industrial projects right here in the industrial heartland and ensure we have the infrastructure to support them,” said Schulz of the investment.
The money is earmarked for three new water intake facilities in the designated industrial zone. The $50 million from the province will be coupled with funding from municipalities and their partners to build the new facilities.
Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville UCP MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk said the project has been a goal of hers for some time.
“I’ve been passionately advocating for this project since my election. The construction of three new water intake facilities or, as I like to call them straws in the river, will allow industries here to continue to grow for many years to come,” Armstrong-Homeniuk said.
Currently, the largest success story of the heartland’s investment attraction is Dow’s Path2Zero. Once it is running, the facility is expected, among other things, to be the world’s first net zero carbon integrated ethylene cracker. Ethylene cracking is a carbon intensive process that is used to convert ethane gas into ethylene using heating, pressure and cooling.
Related
- Dow’s Alberta petrochemical megaproject to get billions in government support
- Keyera Corp. credits partnerships for helping get KAPS pipeline to Fort Saskatchewan built
Armstrong-Homeniuk, Schulz, and Alberta Industrial Heartland Association chairman David Diduck all spoke about how the investment is aimed at sending the right signals to prospective investors.
“This new intake will improve the business case for companies choosing to locate in the heartland,” he said. Diduck is also reeve of Lamont County.
The borders of the Alberta Industrial Heartland include parts of Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan and Sturgeon, Lamont and Strathcona counties.
While all of the speakers touched on the announcement’s intended effect of attracting more investment, when Diduck was asked what projects were in the works that would take advantage of the new infrastructure, he couldn’t offer any specifics.
“Discussions are happening, they’re happening all the time. But as of right now, no one has made a final investment decision that’s worth the use of a new intake,” he said.
Diduck said one of the municipalities within the designated industrial zone has filed an application with Alberta Environment but final approval hasn’t happened yet. He said once approval is finalized he expects the beginning of construction soon after.
McKay-Bennett’s speaking@McKBenLove0T:
Expected as the regime loves the silenced Hong Kong very much.
Creating jobs in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, Alberta is investinggiving more than $50 million in the Designated Industrial Zone to help boost investment, create jobs and attract major petrochemical projects to the province Propaganda & Lies to make Albertans accept this by Alberta Evangelical TBA controlled UCP, May 16, 2024
The Designated Industrial Zone (DIZ) in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) launched in 2022 to streamline regulatory approvals and support infrastructure development while maintaining world-class environmental standards. The program is helping attract major new projects, including Dow’s Path2Zero facility.
No new water intakes have been developed in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland for more than a decade, even though demand by industry has grown. The government’s $50.5-million investment over five years will help build three new water intake facilities in the DIZ. This will help create jobs, grow the petrochemical sector, reduce global emissions and diversify Alberta’s economy.
“The future of clean energy, petrochemical innovation and economic growth is happening in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and the Designated Industrial Zone. Water is critical for industry and businesses, and the area needs new facilities to keep growing. This investment will help attract world-leading industrial projects to the Industrial Heartland and ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support them.”Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Today’s announcement is terrific news for my constituents in Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville. This investment of more than $50 million means Alberta’s Industrial Heartland will continue to thrive, and when the Heartland thrives, Fort Saskatchewan grows, and Alberta prospers.”Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville
Access to processed water is needed by industries in the area to operate. When the availability of processed water is uncertain it can drive up costs and hinder new investment opportunities for industry in the region, such as new petrochemical, hydrogen and ammonia projects. The new funding will help municipalities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland construct up to three new water intake facilities and related infrastructure. The new water intakes will provide cost effective, fair and reasonable water access for industrial purposes to all districts in the zone.
“These new water intakes will improve the competitiveness for Alberta’s Industrial Heartland by providing open access to competitively priced water. This new funding will create long-lasting, environmentally responsible economic growth and diversification in AIH. Investments like this help position AIH as a global leader for industrial investment.”Mark Plamondon, executive director, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association
As part of the DIZ, rigorous environmental protection and management measures are in place, including an Air Emissions Requirement Policy, enhanced guidance for air modelling, and a Water Quality Management Program. The water intakes will be located in the Lamont, Strathcona, and Sturgeon counties, with the Alberta government covering up to 30 per cent of the construction and associated infrastructure costs for the new facilities.
The Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone has the potential to attract billions of dollars in capital investment, and support thousands of jobs by 2030. It continues to sustain clear regulatory frameworks, streamlined procedures and investment-friendly policies to attract and retain business. Strong environmental policies and programs kept in place create a regulatory framework that provides the certainty industry needs to confidently invest.
Building up the Designated Industrial Zone is a transformative investment in Alberta’s future. By harnessing the potential of the zone, the Alberta government will drive economic growth, stimulate innovation and create a more prosperous province today, and for future generations.
Quick facts
- Current investment in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is valued at around $40 billion.
- Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and is home to world-scale oil and gas refineries, chemical and petrochemical facilities.
- Industrial zoned land extends into five municipalities, including 533 square kilometres within the City of Fort Saskatchewan and the Counties of Lamont, Strathcona and Sturgeon, in addition to 49 square kilometres in the City of Edmonton.
- The DIZ’s streamlined regulatory approach is a global best practice for managing and encouraging sustainable industrial growth. Facilities in the area benefit from:
- consistent, coordinated regulatory approvals
- shared access to infrastructure and resources
- minimized cumulative environmental impacts through participative governance of the zone and a commitment to continuous improvement
- Water intake construction sites were determined based on a 2022 study that guided infrastructure development for water supply and wastewater treatment. A significant emphasis is being placed on the expanded use of reclaimed water by industry to help maximize water supply and reduce the environmental impact.
- Learning from the pilot in the Industrial Heartland, the Alberta government continues to explore options to develop similar zones in other parts of the province.
Related information
- Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone
- Designated industrial zone pilot project: regional water systems feasibility study
Multimedia
Refer also to:
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Highlights
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing center.
We characterize 77 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in this region.
Dozens of VOCs, including carcinogens, were enhanced in the industrial plumes.
Sources include propene fractionation, diluent separation and bitumen processing.
Male hematopoietic cancer rates are higher in this region than elsewhere in Alberta.
Abstract
The “Industrial Heartland” of Alberta is Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing center, with more than 40 major chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas facilities. Emissions from these industries affect local air quality and human health.
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