The government of British Columbia, Canada's western province, has introduced new Clean Energy Act Wednesday, which aims at electricity self-sufficiency, job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions powered by unprecedented investments in clean, renewable energy.

Under the act, 16 specific energy objectives will be advanced, such as expediting clean energy investments, ensuring competitive rates, encouraging conservation and aggressively promoting regional job creation, a news release issued by provincial government says.

The act "opens the way to an exciting new age of economic growth and job creation by unleashing British Columbia's full potential in clean energy, power smart technologies, environmental stewardship and climate action," said Premier Gordon Campbell in the release.

Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, said that the province "has a proud history of producing clean, reliable electricity at rates that are among the lowest in North America."

BC Hydro, which serves 94 percent of British Columbia's population, is required by the act to help meet the province's target of reducing the expected demand for electricity by at least 66 percent by 2020 through conservation and energy efficiency. The electricity provider plans to replace all of its 1.8 million customer meters with smart electricity meters, which enable customers to reduce electricity use and save money.