Banff Emissions Down Nearly 50% Since 2016, Expects To Beat 2030 Goal

The Town of Banff says it remains on track to cut greenhouse-gas emissions from town-owned buildings in half by 2030, but officials say the easiest reductions have already been made and future progress will be more difficult.

A June 9 review of the town's 2024-25 Facilities Energy and Emissions Report found emissions from town-owned buildings fell to 3,970 tonnes in 2025, down about 4% from the previous year and nearly 50% from 2016 levels. Current projections suggest the town will exceed its 2030 target, with emissions expected to be 55.4% below 2016 levels by the end of the decade.

"It's just so fantastic to see that we're on track and we're trending in the right direction," said Mayor Corrie DiManno.

The progress has come even as overall energy use increased by about 2.4%, rising from 13,788 megawatt-hours in 2024 to 14,119 megawatt-hours in 2025. Philipp Leberer, the Town of Banff's energy co-ordinator, said much of the reduction in emissions has resulted from Alberta's cleaner electricity grid following the province's coal phaseout in 2024.

"The Alberta grid reduced its emission intensity by over 50% in the last 10 years," he said.

The report says the town's solar-energy systems have also helped reduce emissions. Solar production reached a record 493 megawatt-hours in 2025, supplying about 7.5% of the town's annual electricity use. The town estimates the systems saved nearly $46,000 in electricity costs and reduced emissions by 197 tonnes.

Natural gas remains one of the town's largest sources of emissions and one of the most difficult to reduce. The report shows emissions from natural-gas use were unchanged between 2016 and 2025 at 1,436 tonnes, even as overall emissions from town-owned buildings fell sharply during the same period.

"Natural gas is a lot harder to abate," said Leberer.

Town vehicles produced 784 tonnes of greenhouse-gas emissions in 2025. Although vehicle emissions declined after Banff shortened waste-hauling distances by switching landfill destinations from Camrose to Calgary, Leberer said further reductions will be needed if the town hopes to meet its broader emissions-reduction goals.

"To continue progress towards the overall corporate goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030, significant reductions to fleet emissions will be necessary," the report said.

The report's findings were welcomed by council. Coun. Marc Ledwidge praised the results and asked about additional opportunities to improve energy efficiency in town buildings. Council also discussed future initiatives, including recovering heat from treated wastewater and producing biogas, a renewable fuel made from food waste and sewage byproducts.

The report credits several projects with helping reduce energy use and emissions, including LED lighting upgrades at the Catharine Robb Whyte Building, more efficient equipment at the wastewater treatment plant, improved energy-management systems at the Waste Transfer Station and Energy Centre, and a new solar array at Sundance Park.

The town is currently undertaking a major lighting and heating-system upgrade at the Banff Fire Hall and exploring projects at the Bear Street Parkade, wastewater treatment plant and municipal staff housing.