December 2011 Alberta Economic Fundamentals

[Ally]

Alberta leads province in average weekly earnings





CALGARY ` Alberta continues to lead all provinces in the country with the highest average weekly earnings.




Statistics Canada reported Thursday that Albertans have seen a 4.4 per cent year-over-year growth in their average weekly earnings, reaching $1,049.31 in October.




However, earnings dropped by 0.1 per cent from September.






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[Ally]

Business Breakdown: New pollution rules close to coal plants




This week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a new set of rules limiting the amount of mercury, arsenic, and other poisons that power plants can pump into the air. Originally mandated under the bipartisan Clean Air Act in 1990, the rules have been delayed by fossil fuel industry challenges in court and Congress. Tougher limits will force coal- and oil-burning power companies to spend billions on scrubbers and other clean emissions technology over the next several years`and where that`s not economical, will close down between 30 and 60 of the most polluting plants in the country`average operating age, 51 years.






Why is there so much controversy over these rules? Fossil-fuel-burning companies don`t want to have to spend money out of their bottom line to cover the external costs of emitting toxic chemicals. Environmentalists and health advocates are up in arms about the illness caused by these chemicals, which have a significant negative impact on public health. The EPA says the rules will prevent 11,000 premature deaths a year, 5,700 hospital and emergency room visits, and 540,000 days of missed work or school, for a final cost-benefit analysis of $9 in health benefits for ever $1 spent complying with the rules.





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