10 ‘Clean’ Tips for Canada’s New Majority Government and Official Opposition

By Anouk Kendall, President | WADE Canada

The reality? It already happens, and quite commonly is some parts of the world. So why is the concept of onsite energy production still so foreign? Energy security is not yet a concern in Canada, unlike in the United States, Europe or Asia.

This said, Canada’s current energy infrastructure is based on a centralised model that leaves millions vulnerable to power plant outages and transmission failures. The emphasis on electricity production with little regard for thermal energy needs means that we perform poorly in terms of efficiency, emissions and flexibility, especially in parts of the country that rely on traditional fossil fuel generation.

Centralized fossil fuel energy generation, hundreds of miles away from the user is not a sustainable solution, we know this. Canada’s energy future must embrace affordable, efficient, reliable and clean decentralized energy technologies, deployed in community driven markets and enabled by progressive policies and legislation. This is what we need to do to remain globally competitive.

And we get there by understanding the following:

1. Decentralized energy (i.e., onsite energy) generation to meet future energy demands will save us nearly 10% on our electricity bills;
2. The future of energy production is efficient, clean and increasingly decentralized. Small, replicable and scalable generation will be integrated into buildings, communities and industrial processes. We need to set low carbon energy supply mix targets in a comprehensive strategy for our country’s long term energy security;
3. The future of energy delivery is intelligent and automated. Digital technology (smart grid) is key to increasing our capabilities in terms of dispatching energy and consuming it as efficiently as possible. We need to set targets for a smart grid portfolio of energy delivery and management tools for residential, commercial and industrial buildings;
4. Canada should establish federal incentives to support the vertical integration of energy services into utility business models in all provinces and territories;
5. Energy storage solutions help equalize the supply: demand variability that has been the cause of delays in clean energy implementation. Investments into clean energy research and development should set energy storage as a priority;
6. Remote communities will transition from diesel and propane electricity generators to smarter, cleaner and efficient onsite energy production and in many cases, micro-grids. We need to set targets the transition to clean energy in remote communities;
7. Nearly one third of electricity-producing firms do not have a plan to manage the loss of the significant percentage of skilled workers eligible to retire within the next seven years (Electricity Sector Council). Succession planning in the energy sector will anticipate supply and demand changes in training and certifications programs for the impending DE workforce. Government investment to increase the number of certified clean energy technology installers, should be a priority;
8. Economic resilience during industry transformation depends on a balanced portfolio of small and large project investments; currently there is little government support for smaller DE projects;
9. It is paramount that small business DE innovators have access to simplified funding mechanisms that reflect their basic financing needs. Our traditional mechanisms are complicated and onerous. A dedicated DE fund to needed to support capacity growth; and
10. DE investment priorities should start with the abundant market opportunities we have in terms of simple and replicable projects.

Background

The Conservative government¹ platform's position on clean energy relates to:

1. Increasing fines to polluters
2. Regulations to increase renewable fuel content in gasoline to reduce tailpipe emissions
3. Regulations to reduce emissions from electricity production
4. Investments into clean energy research and development with an emphasis on carbon capture and storage
5. Continuing the clean energy dialogue between Canada and the United States to enhance collaboration
6. Domestic GHG emission reduction goal of 17% from 2005 levels by 2020
7. Extension of ecoENERGY retrofit homes program
8. Additional support for R&D in clean energy and energy efficiency

Official opposition party, NDP², was voted in based on these clean energy platforms:

1. Permanent Eco-energy retrofit program
2. Reduce small business tax rate
3. Extend tax credits for jobs-supporting investment
4. Federal investment in major green energy projects across Canada
5. Domestic GHG emission reduction goal of 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 with interim targets for 2015-2045
6. Put a price on carbon through cap-and-trade system
7. Advance an integrated continental cap-and-trade system
8. Redirect revenues from auctioning of emissions permits into green technologies, business and residential energy conservation, public transit, renewable energy developments and transitioning workers into green economy
9. Cut subsidies to non-renewable energy and end federal bias toward non-renewable energy production
10. Reallocate subsidies to:
        a.  Reinstate federal financial incentives for clean energy
        b.  Incentives to spur innovative ‘made in Canada’ technology solutions
        c.  Support a revolving fund to provide ongoing federal energy efficiency, clean energy projects and green jobs
        d.  Manage transitional costs of energy industry to a low carbon world
        e.  Fight fuel poverty (high percentage, i.e., >20% of household income going to pay energy bills)
        f.  Training programs for green energy workers and professionals
    
11. Develop cumulative impact assessments and environmental regulations
12. Comprehensive strategy for out country’s long term energy security in a low carbon future
13. Discourage bulk exports of unprocessed resources and encourage value-added, responsible upgrading, refining and petrochemical manufacturing here in Canada
14. Create a Green Bond Fund to allow Canadians to invest in clean energy
15. Enact a National Public Transit Strategy

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¹Conservative Party Platform 2011 http://www.conservative.ca/media/ConservativePlatform2011_ENs.pdf
²NDP Party Platform 2011 http://www.ndp.ca/platfor