OTTAWA - - Alberta led in energy growth between 1990 & 2002

OTTAWA - Oil rich Alberta led the country in the growth of energy consumed between 1990 and 2002, Statistics Canada says.

"Driven by a booming economy and a surging population, the rate of growth in energy use in Alberta was double that of Ontario and Quebec since 1990," the agency said recently.

"From 1990 to 2002, Alberta's overall consumption soared 30.7 per cent. . . . In contrast, energy consumption went up only 12.1 per cent in Ontario and 16.6 per cent in Quebec."

During the period, Alberta's population soared 22 per cent and its economy was booming because of the burgeoning oil patch, the agency said.

Statistics Canada looked at energy consumption using 1990 as a starting point because "it is the base year for estimating and reporting energy inventories for the Kyoto climate-change protocol."

Kyoto commits Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.

The agency found that overall consumption of natural gas, refined petroleum products and coal increased 18.1 per cent from 1990 to 2002. And consumption of natural gas during the 12-year period increased by 23.4 per cent.

As a result, natural gas accounted for 32 per cent of total energy consumption in 2002, up from 30 per cent in 1990. Refined petroleum products accounted for 39 per cent, down slightly from 40 per cent.

In 2002, Ontario was the country's biggest energy user, accounting for 34 per cent of all energy consumed. Quebec's share was 21 per cent, while Alberta's was 17 per cent.

"Ontario alone accounted for 38 per cent of all the natural gas consumed in the country, as well as 32 per cent of all refined petroleum products."

Overall, Canadians' demand for energy rose 3.2 per cent in 2002 from 2001.

But energy use derived from the three main fossil fuels - natural gas, refined petroleum products and coal rose faster - by four per cent.

Increased demand was mainly attributable to a 3.6 per cent gain in industrial consumption and residential sales, which crept up 2.9 per cent.

The agency also said that use of energy for cars, trucks and other forms of transportation grew twice as fast as industrial use during in the 12 years between 1990 and 2002.

From 1990 to 2002, energy consumption in the transportation sector increased 22.7 per cent, while demand in the industrial sector rose 11.7 per cent.

Energy consumption in the residential and agriculture sector, covering households and farms, rose seven per cent.