'This, to me, is maybe the most important thing,' said Heather Exner-Pirot, director of natural resources, energy and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Pipelines and Pathways Plus are the talk of the town when it comes to a new energy pact that Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney are expected to sign Thursday in Calgary.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Yet, flying under the radar is another word that may be just as critical: power.

And it could have huge implications for Alberta’s gas-reliant power grid and the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) — and the potential effect of the federal policy on power markets, new generation and the province’s ambition to attract $100 billion in data centres within five years.

“This, to me, is maybe the most important thing,” Heather Exner-Pirot, director of natural resources, energy and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said Wednesday.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

“The CER has to go. They’re probably unconstitutional, but I just feel like people haven’t put together how important the CER has been in deterring new electricity investment in this country.”

As part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the federal and provincial governments, the agreement is expected to provide a path ahead for proposing a new oil pipeline between Alberta and the northern coast of........

© Edmonton Journal