(Saskatchewan) The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act and Regulations

Last updated: 8 March 2024

The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act and associated Regulations require regulated emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with prescribed output-based performance standards. The legislation applies to electricity facilities emitting more than 10,000 tonnes CO2e per year and industrial facilities emitting more than 25,000 tonnes CO2e per year. The Act covers emissions of the following GHGs: CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride and prescribed categories of HFCs and PFCs.
Regulated emitters must establish a baseline emission level for each owned or operated facility and submit annual reports adhering to the criteria laid out under the Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Reporting) Standard. Permitted emissions for a regulated facility are determined based on the applicable performance standard allocation or the emissions intensity standard of the commercial product as defined by the (Standards and Compliance) Regulations, 2023. If total regulated emissions exceed permitted emissions during a compliance year, the emitter incurs a compliance obligation. Compliance obligations may be fulfilled through one or more of the following actions: payment to the Government of Saskatchewan, retirement of performance credits, retirement of CCUS credits or an alternative compliance option approved by the minister that is consistent with the GHG emission reduction objective of the Act. 
Part 4 of the General and Electricity Producer Regulations under the Act establishes a CO2e Cumulative Emissions Cap for All Facilities in Saskatchewan for designated compliance periods. The cap is 77,000,000 tonnes for the compliance period 2020-2024 and 64,500,000 tonnes for compliance period 2025-2029. 
Finally, the Act establishes the Saskatchewan Technology Fund to support provincial initiatives that lead to mitigation, sequestration or capture of GHGs. The Fund will consist of payments made in fulfillment of compliance obligations and administrative penalties, along with any additional moneys appropriated by the Legislature. Regulated emitters may apply for payments from the Fund in the form of grants or loans to carry out approved activities.

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