In Canada we are resource rich but vision poor.
We have the World’s second largest oil reserves and large storage hydro systems that provide amongst the cheapest electricity in the World.
Perhaps for this reason it’s no surprise that Canada lags behind other countries in supporting and developing alternative renewable energy sources and clean technologies. In 2010 Germany had 26,000 MW of installed wind power while Canada had just 3,250 MW. Canada is also dwarfed by other countries like Spain, China and the US, who have tens of thousands of megawatts of wind energy installed.
Another example, in 2009, China invested $221 billion in green stimulus investment. The US invested $112 billion, South Korea $31 billion and Japan $12 billion. Canada fell embarrassingly short, investing just $3 billion.
At risk are jobs, investment and economic development as well as the increasing impacts of climate change, all compelling evidence that our country needs to move beyond talking about action to creating a reality of a sustainable energy future for our country.
Where the greatest opportunity lies for a greater vision is an approach to integrate conventional and clean energy sources to transition to a cleaner and prosperous greener future. What is missing is an integrated national clean energy strategy.
In some provinces we continue to burn fossil fuels for electrical generation. In others we have an increasing supply of renewable resources that cannot be relied on all the time for firm energy. The question then emerges, how do we maximize the benefits of these resources when we are transmission-challenged to move electricity between provinces and southward to US export markets.
Even within provinces and regions, if we had intra-region transmission and smart grids developed, we could have the ability to firm and shape new clean renewable projects with other renewables. Most importantly we could begin to better integrate new clean energy resources with old fossil fuel resources and map out a new economy for the future of Canada.
We need to think boldly and challenge our standard way of thinking. Perhaps clean renewable wind power, firmed by BC Hydro storage dams could be sold to Alberta to power energy hungry extraction and pumping/compression equipment at Alberta’s oil sands.
This helps Alberta clean up a fossil fuel industry that currently uses natural gas to extract oil sands. It could also benefit British Columbia in increasing access to cleaner energy to extract shale gas transitioning to a more sustainable future.
For a new vision and strategy to emerge, we need all parties at the table ready to talk frankly about the give and take that would need to happen to make a national energy strategy a reality. From government to First Nations and ENGOS to industry, we need to be united in a goal to build and embracing a new cleaner and clearer vision that plans to optimize clean energy resources in a transition mode from dependence on fossil fuel resources.
It’s not without challenge and controversy and it requires provinces to work with the federal government. First Nations and ENGOs as well as industry need to have a voice in setting the vision without hijacking the process. There are hurdles to overcome, such as the notion that if we are not careful, a national vision could simply become a means for Canada to “green wash” selling its dirty fossil fuels abroad or continuing to under-invest in alternative energy resources.
The first step is changing our thinking and the story we tell. Canada’s goal should not be to continue to debate whether energy is clean or dirty, rather it should be recognizing that utilizing energy from all sources enables us to take the right steps to transform the world.
Backed by our natural resource wealth we need to use our innovative thinking to help lead the necessary changes so that BC, Canada and beyond have a cleaner future to look forward to.
Paul Kariya is Executive Director of the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia.
The Clean Energy Association of British Columbia’s mandate is to develop a viable independent power industry in British Columbia that serves the public interest by providing cost-effective electricity through the efficient and environmentally responsible development of the Province’s energy resources. Since 1992, the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (formerly the Independent Power Producers of British Columbia) has been the voice of Clean Energy Producers in BC, to government and the public. Clean Energy BC has been active in all activities related to electricity development from government electricity policy formulation and regulatory processes to informing the public, local and First Nations governments and other resource users throughout province.
