Syntaris Power

Shift to green providing economic stimulus to Canada’s provinces

Canada is the ninth most attractive location in which to invest in renewable energy projects, according to Ernst & Young’s latest Renewable energy country attractiveness indices.

Canada retained ninth position out of 27 countries analyzed for their attractiveness for renewable energy infrastructure investment – increasing the score gap over Portugal and Ireland, both ranked tenth – driven by the stability and resilience of the Canadian financial system during the ongoing capital market challenges around the globe.

“Canada is holding firm while some others have slipped in an uncertain economic and regulatory environment,” said Stephen Lewis, leader of Ernst & Young’s Renewable Energy Advisory practice in Canada. “We’re seeing some significant activity that is increasing the share of renewables in Canada’s energy mix, but if we want to be seen as a market leader, more work will be required from all stakeholders in the industry.”

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More fresh electricity capacity was added to the electricity grids of both the United States and Europe last year from wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable sources than from conventional power plants run on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

It was the second year in a row that renewable energy beat its conventional competitors.

The findings are being released Thursday in reports jointly issued by the United Nations Environment Program and Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Network, which said green energy has “reached a clear tipping point” in becoming the dominant type of new electricity supply.

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New legislation will make B.C. electricity self-sufficient, create jobs and help support health care and education

By Bill Bennett, Special to the Sun

Our new Clean Energy Act will help ensure that British Columbians continue to enjoy the benefits of our clean, reliable and cost-effective power for many years to come.

Experts have told us that, over the next 20 years, as our population increases by more than one million residents, we can expect the demand for electricity to grow by as much as 40 per cent. In order to meet this growing demand, all of us must make every effort to conserve electricity and be more efficient in our power use. Recognizing this need, we have increased BC Hydro’s conservation target to 66 per cent, from 50 per cent. However, conservation alone will not be enough.

We need to ensure that we have secure, clean sources of power to meet this growing demand. There is no better place to get clean energy than right here in British Columbia. We have abundant water, wind and biomass, and a proven, track record in delivering sustainable projects such as the W.A.C. Bennett Dam in the Peace Canyon region.

…There are critics who say that we should continue to rely on electricity generated in the United States, even if it’s not generated from clean or renewable resources.

We simply do not agree with this approach. The Clean Energy Act puts in legislation that BC Hydro will be electricity self-sufficient, which includes 3,000 gigawatt hours of “insurance” electricity by 2020 and at least 93 per cent of our electricity will be generated from clean and renewable sources.

…The new Clean Energy Act sets the foundation for a future of electricity self-sufficiency and job creation, powered by unprecedented investments in clean, renewable energy across the province.

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TORONTO — Between the wind power, electric buses and diverted waste Ottawa hopes the legacy the G8 and G20 summits leave is a green one.

The government unveiled its plan Friday for the upcoming summits to have a minimal environmental impact.

Peter Kent, minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas), announced the six components of the plan at a sparsely attended news conference in a park across from the G20 media centre.

“In the case of the G8 the entire grid will run on wind and hydroelectricity,” Kent said.

“Here in Toronto the (Metro Toronto) Convention Centre, the Direct Energy Centre (the media centre), the delegate hotels…will be powered only by renewable sources.”

Both summits will be “zero waste events,” meaning waste generated at the main summit venues will be recycled, reduced or reused, he said.

…Thousands of newly planted trees and a “living wall” of plants that will produce high-quality air inside the Direct Energy Centre are being called the summits’ “environmental legacy projects.”

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