Powering Alberta: Innovation, Infrastructure, and the Path to a Sustainable Energy Future

Alberta’s resource industries are no strangers to change. From pioneering extraction technologies to advancing some of the most sophisticated reclamation practices in the world, this province has continually demonstrated how innovation drives environmental performance.

At the 2025 Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) Environmental Forum, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators gathered to explore one of the most pressing questions of our time: How do we power Alberta’s next chapter of growth while advancing sustainability and ensuring the certainty investors need to move forward?

The conversations revealed a shared understanding—innovation isn’t the challenge; alignment is. To realize Alberta’s full potential, the province must harness technology, policy, and collaboration in equal measure.

From Waste to Worth: Turning Landfills into Fuel

Craig Latimer, CEO & Founder, Portage Energy Group

Craig Latimer spotlighted an area of opportunity hiding in plain sight—landfills. As he noted, “Landfill emissions are worse than CO₂,” yet they hold untapped potential for clean fuel production. His company’s technology accelerates the decomposition process, converting waste into usable fuel while dramatically reducing methane emissions—28 times more potent than CO₂ over a 100-year timescale.

With global markets now mandating sustainable fuel blends, Craig emphasized that Alberta is uniquely positioned to lead. The European Union’s low-carbon fuel mandates and limited landfill capacity are driving global demand for innovative waste-to-fuel technologies. Alberta’s competitive advantage—its carbon capture infrastructure, hydrogen integration capabilities, and regulatory experience—positions the province to export both product and expertise.

Up to 80% of landfill waste can be diverted to fuel production, using hydrogen supplied from facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland to accelerate decomposition and boost energy yield. By integrating hydrogen into the process, projects like this could produce as much as 200 million litres of sustainable jet fuel annually.

Beyond the technical achievement, Craig underscored the social impact. Each project will partner with a local First Nation, ensuring economic participation and shared benefit in every region.

This is the new face of resource innovation—waste-to-fuel systems that close environmental loops, strengthen rural and Indigenous economies, and create exportable clean energy products.

Balancing Change with Certainty

Michael Barbero, Partner, McLennan Ross LLP

Michael Barbero built on that theme of opportunity—tempered by realism. “The appetite for change is clear,” he observed, “but execution must be careful.” The transition to cleaner energy systems demands massive capital investment, and regulatory uncertainty can stall that investment before it begins.

He highlighted the importance of balanced legal and regulatory frameworks—ones that protect environmental outcomes while maintaining predictability for investors. Oversight, he argued, should be robust and expert, but also transparent, consistent, and timely.

The discussion turned to Alberta’s electricity market, which has seen multiple policy shifts since 2023, particularly affecting renewable energy development. The province now faces a new era of scrutiny—where projects are assessed not only on technical merit, but also on landscape impact, agricultural use, and visual footprint. While well-intentioned, these evolving rules have created uncertainty that affects all types of projects.

“Without certainty, investment sits on the sideline,” Michael warned. Regulatory bottlenecks delay projects and discourage innovation. The solution lies in creating frameworks that are timely, predictable, and adaptable—encouraging both stability and evolution.

Powering the Digital Frontier

Spencer O’Donnell, Analyst, Orennia

Spencer O’Donnell turned the spotlight toward one of Alberta’s fastest-growing—and most underestimated—drivers of future power demand: data centres.

For years, Alberta’s overall power demand has remained relatively flat. But over the next 25 years, that’s expected to change dramatically as artificial intelligence and data infrastructure expand. Current operating data centres are small compared to those under construction or in development. The question is not if Alberta will need more power, but how it will secure it—sustainably and reliably.

This challenge is not unique to Alberta. In the United States, 240 combined-cycle power plants were built in 2002, compared to only two in 2024. Layered on top of that are transmission constraints and long distances to fibre optic networks—the “data highways” essential to connectivity. Spencer’s analysis suggests that only a handful of proposed facilities will be able to connect to the existing grid.

Meeting this surge in demand requires a dual focus on supply and investment certainty. While nuclear and natural gas remain essential transition fuels, both face infrastructure and supply chain bottlenecks. Recommissioning nuclear facilities can take years, and turbine supply chains for gas projects currently face five-year delays.

Still, Alberta offers major advantages: abundant natural gas, established infrastructure, and cooler ambient temperatures that reduce data centre cooling costs. These factors make Alberta an attractive and logical location for new facilities.

The takeaway: as Alberta’s industries digitize, energy policy must evolve just as quickly. The data economy is growing fast—and Alberta can lead if it builds with foresight.

Carbon Competitiveness and the Policy Horizon

Patrick McDonald, Assistant Deputy Minister, Air, Climate and Clean Technology Division, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas

Patrick McDonald closed the forum with a clear-eyed view of Alberta’s carbon pricing framework and its role in attracting investment. “Carbon pricing has put Alberta on the map,” he said, noting that it gives the province credibility and predictability in a world where investors demand both.

Still, Patrick cautioned that the trajectory of past policies has sometimes been overly ambitious, creating friction between climate goals and investment confidence. The key, he said, is balance—finding a policy framework that supports both growth and emissions reduction.

Each province, he suggested, needs a tailored approach to tier-sector emissions. What works for oil and gas may not suit manufacturing or agriculture. Meanwhile, misalignment between federal, provincial, and U.S. policies continues to make it difficult to attract capital. “Uncertainty doesn’t always come from change,” he added. “Sometimes it comes from what hasn’t changed.”

Even so, there is reason for optimism. Since 2007, Alberta has registered more than 100 million tonnes of carbon offsets, with strong participation and compliance. This demonstrates a functioning market capable of driving both accountability and innovation.

Charting Alberta’s Sustainable Energy Future

The 2025 Environmental Forum painted a vivid picture of a province on the edge of transformation. From landfill-to-fuel innovation to carbon pricing, from power grid reform to digital infrastructure, the message was clear: Alberta’s energy future will be built on integration.

When decisions are certain, timely, predictable, and efficient, Alberta can protect public interests, create jobs, and drive sustainable economic growth.

By combining technological ingenuity, practical regulation, and collaboration with Indigenous and local communities, Alberta can build an energy system that is cleaner, more competitive, and better connected to global markets.

As the province enters a decade defined by transition, one thing is clear: Alberta is not waiting for the future to arrive—it’s engineering it.

The Alberta Chamber of Resources extends sincere appreciation to its 2025 Environmental Forum partners—Actuo Consulting, McLennan Ross LLP, COSIA, and AJM Environmental—for their leadership and commitment to collaboration and innovation. Their support made this important dialogue possible and continues to drive Alberta’s leadership in responsible resource development and environmental performance.

ACR also extends its heartfelt thanks to each of the forum speakers for sharing their insights, expertise, and forward-looking perspectives that shaped such a meaningful discussion. Their contributions underscored Alberta’s collective commitment to responsible development and innovation.

Finally, a special thank-you to the ACR Environmental Forums Committee for their vision, leadership, and dedication in curating this year’s program. Their work ensures that critical conversations continue to advance Alberta’s path toward a more sustainable and prosperous resource future.