Until politicians get out of the driver’s seat, we will never get energy transition right You’ve heard about getting things “bass-ackward”? That self-explanatory term pretty much describes the state of energy transition in Canada. That also means there’s no way Canada’s oil and gas sector, to channel prominent business thinker Jim Collins, is going from…
“Western Canada is going to be one of the biggest jurisdictions for lithium on the planet” Canada’s post-pandemic economy is like a cross-country horse race. Out front, galloping through the canyons of inflation, geopolitical instability, and supply chain problems are oil and gas, retail, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism, to name a few industries. Gaining…
But getting a green industrial policy right is no simple task Canada has legislated a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Getting there is essential for tackling climate-related extreme weather events like floods, storms and wildfires that already cost us hundreds of lives and billions of dollars every year. But reaching net-zero…
The GV60 has plenty of unique features that put it well above its Hyundai and Kia relatives
The first Genesis model with a dedicated all-electric platform is the GV60, a high-end compact crossover. Genesis is the luxury brand for Hyundai. While the GV60 shares some underpinnings with the related Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6, it has plenty of unique features that put it well above its Hyundai and Kia relatives.…
Discovery that technology is viable moves it closer to becoming part of a low-carbon economy
University of Alberta research is making new strides in discoveries about capturing and storing carbon – while yielding a high-value end product from carbon dioxide. A process that injects the greenhouse gas deep below ground, then circulates it to extract heat and geothermal energy, has proven viable in a feasibility study by U of A…
But range anxiety remains an issue if you want to use this electric car for longer trips
In California, they recently introduced an amendment that will make it illegal to sell or purchase new fossil-fuel-powered automobiles after 2035. You will apparently still be able to buy a used gas-powered car, but in California the writing is on the wall when it comes to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Battery-powered cars are certainly…
A narrow focus on the green/clean sector won’t get the job done. The sector is too small and the workforce’s skill set doesn't suit the goals
By Jock Finlayson and Denise Mullen Business Council of B.C. After the shock Canadians have experienced in 2020, an economic recovery that focuses on jobs, incomes and business growth is much more important than whether it’s ‘green’ or some other colour. However, in Canadian politics these days green invariably symbolizes good. Never mind that green…
Capitalizing on an educated workforce and taking a hard look at taxation would help the province diversify its post-pandemic economy, according to U of A experts
Growing Alberta’s sustainable energy sector alongside its conventional energy backbone might be a short-term remedy for pulling the province out of its current financial crisis, but University of Alberta economists say it won’t necessarily help the province compete globally. Joseph Doucet, dean of the Alberta School of Business, agrees that investment in a greener future…While communities see the potential, they require tools and resources to support their efforts in community energy planning
By Tonja Leach and Ericka Wicks QUEST QUEST and Pollution Probe recently launched the Smart Energy Communities Benchmark, a first-of-its-kind tool that provides a powerful benchmark that Canadian municipalities and utilities can use to assess their Smart Energy Community progress. Municipalities have a growing interest in community energy planning because it offers opportunities to strengthen…
Start learning the deep details of the science and economics instead of letting extremists dictate what you’re allowed to think or say
Last year was the year the climate issue took a sharp turn towards extremism. Let’s hope 2020 is the year sanity makes a comeback. There have long been three groups occupying the climate issue. To avoid pejoratives, I will call them A, B and C. The A group are the doubters. They don’t believe greenhouse…