Alberta Rethinks Well Cleanup Costs: Industry May Pay, Not Taxpayers

Alberta is rethinking how it handles its growing backlog of inactive oil and gas wells—and this time, the public might not be left with the bill. A new version of a government-commissioned report recommends the province manage an industry-funded insurance program, rather than relying on taxpayer money for cleanup. It’s a shift that follows public outcry over leaked proposals suggesting otherwise. With nearly 450,000 wells sitting idle, the stakes are high—and the province says decisions on next steps are coming soon.