CALGARY, AB, May 3, 2021 /CNW/ - Earlier today, ATCO
published our eleventh Sustainability Report, highlighting
noteworthy developments from the past year, including a 90 per cent
reduction in ATCO's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – realized
primarily through the sale of Canadian Utilities' fossil fuel-based
electricity generation portfolio as well as reductions in our
retained assets. In 2020, ATCO also commissioned Canada's largest off-grid solar project and
continued to grow the company's hydrogen expertise.
"Our strategy is predicated upon the production of cleaner
fuels, renewable electricity, energy efficiency and crucial energy
infrastructure," said Nancy
Southern, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Ltd. "As
environmental, social and governance considerations take on greater
importance among global constituents, ATCO is uniquely well
equipped to help our customers and communities achieve their own
sustainability goals, including the transition to net zero
emissions."
For decades, sustainable and inclusive development has been a
hallmark of ATCO's approach to business and central to our
strategy—from the numerous partnerships we have forged with
Indigenous communities to the innovative technologies we have
pioneered around the world.
"ATCO's reputation is built on being there for our people, our
customers and our communities in the most critical of times," said
Ms. Southern. "When I reflect on our peoples' actions through the
pandemic, the floods in Fort McMurray,
Alberta and the devastating bushfires in Australia, I marvel at our peoples' courage,
heart and determination."
Highlights of ATCO's 2020 performance include:
- 90 per cent reduction in GHG emissions: Our GHG
emissions were reduced by 90 per cent from 2019 to 2020, primarily
from the sale of our Canadian fossil fuel-based electricity
generation business in 2019. It also included a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions from our retained assets by 17 per cent
since 2019.
- Demonstrating a new model for energy infrastructure: We
were awarded the prestigious International Edison Award for our
work on the Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project,
completed by Alberta PowerLine
(APL). From securing an innovative public-private partnership
funding source to engaging and eventually selling a 40 per cent
equity stake to our Indigenous partners, APL is a model for
inclusive long-term development.
- Completion of Canada's
largest off-grid solar project: In partnership with the
Indigenous-owned Three Nations Energy, we completed Canada's largest off-grid solar project in
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, reducing
the community's reliance on diesel by approximately 800,000 litres
per year and reducing GHG emissions by 2,145 tonnes annually.
- Investing in hydrogen as an energy of the future:
Supporting the switch to cleaner fuels is one of our key energy
transition strategies. We are building Alberta's first hydrogen
blending project in Fort Saskatchewan,
Alberta, and expanding on our work at our Clean Energy
Innovation Hub (CEIH) in Australia. In 2020, we successfully blended 10
per cent hydrogen into existing natural gas distribution
infrastructure as part of the CEIH.
- Embracing diversity, equity and inclusion is part of our
DNA: Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is
unwavering. Since 2016, we have increased the number of women in
senior management positions by 51 per cent and maintained over 30
per cent women on our ATCO Board of Directors.
- An unrelenting focus on operational excellence: When the
unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic hit, we took steps to protect the
health and safety of our people, our customers and our communities.
Whether it be bringing in safety protocols to protect our people,
or supplying medical facilities to the Government of Canada, we continued to focus on operational
excellence and providing our customers with the essential services
they need.
- Indigenous partnerships are foundational to our
business: We continue to expand economic opportunities with
Indigenous communities across our operations. We have 50
joint-venture partnerships, memorandums of understanding and other
partnerships and generated over $71
million in net economic benefit for Indigenous groups.
The full 2020 ATCO Sustainability Report is available here.
With approximately 6,200 employees and assets of $22
billion, ATCO is a diversified global corporation with investments
in the essential services of Structures & Logistics (workforce
and residential housing, innovative modular facilities,
construction, site support services, workforce lodging services,
facility operations and maintenance, defence operations services,
and disaster and emergency management services); Utilities
(electricity and natural gas transmission and distribution, and
international electricity operations); Energy Infrastructure
(electricity generation, energy storage and industrial water
solutions); Retail Energy (electricity and natural gas retail
sales); Transportation (ports and transportation logistics); and
Commercial Real Estate. More information can be found
at www.ATCO.com.
Forward-Looking Information:
Certain
statements contained in this news release may constitute
forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often,
but not always, identified by the use of words such as
"anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will",
"intend", "should", and similar expressions.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking information.
The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result
of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in
which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions
(including as may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic), and other
factors, many of which are beyond the control of the
Company.
The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be
given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such
forward-looking information should not be unduly relied
upon.
Any forward-looking information contained in this news
release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof
and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities
legislation.
Investor
Inquiries:
Myles Dougan
Director, Investor Relations & External Disclosure
T: 403-292-7879 C: 403-828-2908
Media Inquiries:
Kurt Kadatz
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
C: 587-228-4571
SOURCE ATCO Ltd.