Campaign Goal:
By August 2025, Enmax will have committed to a phased transition away from its existing natural gas assets to renewable sources, with a firm target, such as  1GW by 2030.

Campaign Rationale:

In May 2024, Enmax announced “favourable” financial results for 2023, allowing the company to pay Calgary a record $95 million dividend and CEO Mark Poweska $3.1 million. These results were partly obtainable due to high electricity prices in Alberta and weakening natural gas costs, which drive most of Enmax’s generation. Those same high energy prices contributed to a surge in Calgarians relying on the Food Bank for sustenance, a 27% increase from the previous year.

Switching to renewable energy procured through fixed-rate Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) can help Enmax and Calgarians avoid the financial uncertainty of natural gas markets. And at the same time, limit the costs of carbon pricing, which are set to increase by over 112% per cubic meter of natural gas by 2030. Calgarians want to know that Enmax is in the hands of a CEO who is there for their future, not just for personal gain.

We at the CCH want Enmax to get serious about its commitment to net zero and start planning accordingly. With an energy-weighted average age of 12.8 years, Enmax’s investments in wind are hardly current. The claim that Taber Wind Farm’s Enercon E70/2300 turbines are “among the most sophisticated in the world” is laughable. Most new wind turbines offer greater output and lower operating costs. But why limit its renewable portfolio to wind? The operating costs for solar are even lower. And Enmax has many natural gas assets approaching the end of their design life. The time to plan for the future is now.

Luckily, wind and solar prices are competitive with natural gas and are expected to decrease 40% by 2035. At the same time, electricity demand in Alberta is expected to grow by 1.2% per year over the next 20 years. The financial implications of Enmax’s inaction are clear. Sitting still means falling behind.

Let’s also remember the summer of 2024. One-third of Jasper burned due to conditions made more likely by climate change, while many other parts of Canada were racked by floods.  Climate change's physical, social, and emotional consequences cannot be ignored. There is strong evidence for systemic risks from climate change, and Enmax has an important role in helping Calgarians mitigate these problems.

As of 2022, GHG-intensive electricity made up 37% of Calgary’s carbon footprint. Calgary needs Enmax’s cooperation on climate change. The CCH's goal is to ensure Enmax provides Calgarians with clean energy. By August 2025, Enmax will have committed to a phased replacement of its existing natural gas assets, totalling approximately 1GW, with renewables.

Campaign Activities

Join our Campaign Kickoff Event (October 26, 2024)