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Regional Roundup
Sept. 16, 2026

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Carbon-capture policy a key focus of conference

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As industry and government leaders gather in Edmonton this week for the Carbon Capture Canada convention, ground has been broken on a project in central Alberta meant to store 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from industrial developments, including many in the Edmonton region. The Origins CCS Hub near Clive, about 140 kilometres south of Edmonton, is an expansion of Enhance Energy's facility, which is said to have stored more than nine million tonnes of CO2 since 2020. The new facility will be connected to Wolf Midstream's Alberta Carbon Trunk Line, which currently carries emissions from the Nutrien fertilizer plant in Redwater and the Sturgeon Refinery, which refines bitumen.

The groundbreaking comes at a time when many carbon-capture projects are facing challenges. Heidelberg Materials recently paused the carbon-capture project at its northwest Edmonton cement plant after reduced carbon pricing at both the federal and provincial level undermined the economics of the $2-billion project. David Perkins, vice-president of sustainability and public affairs for Heidelberg Materials, told Taproot that the price of carbon emissions is "not an insignificant" element when determining the viability of a full-scale CCS project. Meanwhile, Varme Energy's Sean Collins wrote earlier this year that his company's project to capture carbon in waste-to-energy facilities is at risk because of the broken math of the carbon credit market.

Varme's Rory Wheat is among the speakers at the Carbon Capture Canada convention, joining a Sept. 15 panel on the importance of policy stability to convert global capital into final investment decisions. "CEOs, investors, and project owners need confidence that policy stability will hold, that regulatory timelines are predictable, and that the commercial frameworks exist to make projects bankable," reads the session description. Another panel will examine where CCUS sits in the data centre discussion. As demand for electricity grows at a pace that grids were not designed to absorb, natural gas is filling the gap, the website says. "Lower-carbon gas-fired power, paired with carbon capture, can deliver the reliability and emissions performance that hyperscalers, regulators, and investors increasingly require," says the description. The conference concludes on Sept. 17 with a tour of the Deep Sky Alpha site, a carbon removal centre in Innisfail.

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Economic development

Municipalities

  • Edmonton Coun. Michael Janz argued in an op-ed that municipalities outside Edmonton should offer shelter and support services for their own vulnerable residents, rather than relying on Edmonton. He cited city data showing 12 regional municipalities had no emergency shelter beds or day spaces in January 2026: "Why are vulnerable residents from other cities being brought into Edmonton while our services are strained and our wait lists are long?" Janz called for leaders to "speak up for Edmonton and tell the UCP that minimum service requirements must exist in all Alberta communities."
  • Parkland County identified four priorities in its 2026-2029 strategic plan: responsive services; land, legacy and agriculture; community impact; and sustainable growth. The county said the plan would guide its decisions and resource allocation.
  • Sturgeon County council unanimously approved a resolution asking Rural Municipalities of Alberta to review provincial oversight of large data centres. The proposed review would cover siting, environmental impacts, digital sovereignty, utilities, infrastructure, public engagement, and community benefits.
  • Strathcona County extended its Emergency Health Services contract with the province through March 31, 2029, preserving its integrated fire and ambulance model with no additional renewal cost. The province continues to review municipal ambulance funding and future service-delivery options.
  • Spruce Grove Mayor Jeff Acker spoke to the Municipal Affairs podcast about the challenges faced by Alberta's mid-sized communities heading into the Alberta Mid-Sized Cities Mayors' Caucus, which is meeting in Red Deer from Sept. 16 to 18.
  • Leduc Mayor Lars Hansen reported that the city's Crime Severity Index fell 9.1% in 2025, compared with a 6.6% decline across Alberta. He said the two-day Project Street Light 2.0 operation led to 10 executed warrants, nine arrests, 29 investigative files, and more than 100 traffic stops.
  • The St. Albert Soccer Association asked the city for a $1.5-million grant and a 30-year loan of $6.8-million for a proposed city-owned indoor soccer facility and outdoor artificial-turf field. The association said it would cover the loan payments and needs new space before its current lease expires in fall 2027. The city plans to present its final analysis on Oct. 13.
  • St. Albert RCMP plan to shift from education toward enforcement after a summer of complaints about e-scooters and other micromobility devices. The provincial government is considering Traffic Safety Act amendments to support consistent municipal rules for the devices.
  • The City of Spruce Grove is inviting applications for a council remuneration review committee by Sept. 25. The committee will study mayor and councillor pay in 2027 and submit a report to council.
  • Strathcona County is hiring an AI solutions architect to design and govern enterprise AI tools for decision-making and service delivery. Applications close on Sept. 17.
  • The City of Leduc gathered feedback through two open houses and a survey on a potential youth centre in Kinsmen Park. No decisions have been made on whether the project will go ahead or where it would be located. The city is weighing parking and congestion concerns at the park. Leduc Mayor Lars Hansen said he has generally heard positive feedback. "People recognize that there's a big gap, especially in the teenage years, for young people in our community having somewhere to go or something to do after school," he said.
  • The City of Leduc marked reaching a population of 40,000 with a five-part storytelling campaign about the community's history and future, from its early development near Telford Lake to recent growth.
  • Parkland County resumed its County Chats, hearing residents' questions about climate adaptation, home-energy rebates, trails, and an aging-well expo. It has scheduled four more drop-in conversations in Wabamun, Keephills, Holborn, and Blueberry this fall.
  • The County of Barrhead agreed to end its Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework with Sturgeon County after provincial changes made such agreements optional between rural municipalities. Mutual-aid fire service, shared emergency services, and referrals for significant discretionary development permits remain covered by separate bylaws.
  • Alberta Municipalities is asking the province to invest $200 million into a one-time Municipal Growth and Tariff Response Program to help municipalities pay for core infrastructure and equipment for fire and police. The organization, which is holding its annual convention in Edmonton from Sept. 23 to 25, said the ask represents 10% of the 2026-27 surplus projected by the Alberta government after its first-quarter fiscal update.

Headlines

Happenings

Here are some events coming up soon:

And here are more to keep in mind:

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

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