Today@Dal

Canadians need to think about energy differently. Like former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, they conflate energy with oil. He was fond of saying the country is an “emerging energy superpower” but in making that claim he forgot that it will become one because of its clean energy assets and potential to develop them, not oil.

This is a mistake also seen on the other side of the political spectrum, where oil is often placed at the centre of discussions about Canada’s energy system, missing opportunities to talk about other energy sources. Doing so ignores the fact that Canada is uniquely endowed with a wide range of clean energy assets. There is massive potential for innovation and expansion in the renewable energy sector, which is the country’s real future as an energy superpower.

The Sustainable Canada Dialogues proposed evidence-based climate solutions from more than 60 scholars from across the country. It found that Canada already produces more than 70 per cent of its electricity from low-carbon emissions sources and it is well within reach to have 100 per cent low carbon electricity by 2035. This is due to existing hydro assets and abundant potential to expand wind and solar energy subject to assessment of social and environmental impacts.

Canada already exports electricity to the United States and can continue to do so through renewable sources. Provinces such as Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador already have major hydroelectricity resources. The Southern Prairies, areas near the Great Lakes, the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and much of northern British Columbia, Yukon, Nunavut, Quebec and Newfoundland are all areas with great potential for wind farming. Solar energy resources are viable across much of southern Canada, especially in the Prairie Provinces. At least one town in the Northwest Territories, Colville Lake, aims to run entirely on the sun’s energy, replacing expensive and aging diesel generators.

The most innovative companies in the business sector have already recognized the economic potential of renewable energy. According to Clean Energy Canada, a record $367 billion (U.S.) was invested last year in renewable power, which is almost double the amount invested in fossil fuels. Environmental sustainability is not counter to economic growth — in fact, it is essential to growth over the long term. Already more people in Canada are employed by clean-energy sector jobs, almost 24,000, than the oil sands, about 22,000 at its peak.

Some traditional oil and gas companies are also recognizing the potential for innovation and have become among the biggest investors in renewable energy. Many companies are increasingly proactive in shifting their business from only oil and gas to expanding to renewable and other energy sources as part of a broader approach to our energy system. For instance Suncor, which issues annual sustainability reports and has a climate action plan, has already begun investing and has committed to investing almost $1 billion in renewable energy. 

Read More (http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/04/21/canada-needs-to-rethink-energy.html)