May Events in Review: The Take-Away for Industry
By Elizabeth Huculak, Vice President | WADE Canada
WADE Canada attends key events to enhance the conversation and capacity for clean and decentralized energy across the country. Here are a few events that WADE Canada participated in recently and the take-aways they offered industry:
It’s well known that the Fort McMurray represents the economic heartbeat for Alberta so it was a great venue for a municipal conversation on the impacts and opportunities of the energy sector on communities. The presentations by Minister of the Environment, Rob Renner and Minister of Energy, Ron Leipert, set the tone outlining the ongoing battle between economic prosperity from oil and gas and the needs to carefully manage the environment.
- AUMA President’s Summit on Energy | May 10-12
- GHG Reduction Summit | May 16-18
- CED Launches Alberta Pavilion for GCEC | May 19
It’s well known that the Fort McMurray represents the economic heartbeat for Alberta so it was a great venue for a municipal conversation on the impacts and opportunities of the energy sector on communities. The presentations by Minister of the Environment, Rob Renner and Minister of Energy, Ron Leipert, set the tone outlining the ongoing battle between economic prosperity from oil and gas and the needs to carefully manage the environment.
While rising energy prices are good for investment and job creation in Alberta, it is a double edged sword. Rising costs of infrastructure development in high growth areas, rising operating costs for other industry segments, and an unequal distribution of benefits were ongoing topics during the event. Municipalities across the province are recognizing the importance of energy in their community vitality and are looking to solutions to ensure they can capitalize on the hydrocarbons industry in a positive environmental way and also capitalize on the opportunities from a more diverse energy mix.
The Alberta Urban Municipality Association through the Alberta Municipal Service Corporation is taking a leadership role on this with a number of programs to support the municipalities in sustainable development, energy management, and energy efficiency.
GHG Reduction Summit :: May 16-18 | Edmonton
Climate Change and Emission Management Corporation (CCEMC) hosted nearly 200 participants from all aspects of the energy industry in Alberta, in Edmonton. The CCEMC is a not-for-profit, independent organization with a mandate to expand climate change knowledge, develop new ‘clean’ technologies and explore practical ways of implementing them. The intent of the event was to engage all stakeholders in discussion about removing the barriers to GHG reduction. The speakers and panelists challenged the participants in the areas of Technology and Innovation; Financial and Human Capital; and Public Policy to identify the questions and possible answers to move forward more quickly in diversifying the energy mix and lowering GHG emissions.
The Minister for the Environment, Hon. Rob Renner set the stage. He indicated that the GHG reduction targets without a plan agreed to in Cancun and Copenhagen needed to be supported by protocols and technology to achieve real results. Noteable presentations by Jeremy Rifkin, who presented the climate change realities; and, Josh Linkner, who provoked new thinking about innovation, set up a series of workshops where participants went to work on creating some actionable ideas on how to commercialize clean technology, attract more money to the clean energy segment, identify the policies and regulations that could advance the market adaptation.
It was clear in the sessions that there were a lot of good ideas but also a large gap to be bridged. While awareness of the issue was growing there is still not a widespread consensus on the issues let alone the solutions. There are many working on growing the clean energy markets and commercializing the technology but the efforts remain fragmented. CCEMC will take the finding from this event and work to develop a response later this year.
CED Launches Alberta Pavilion for Global Clean Energy Congress :: May 19 | Calgary
A collaboration between Edmonton and Calgary Economic Development will ensure support to local business involved in clean energy. There were roughly 40 companies who attended the launch breakfast sponsored by Calgary Economic Development in the Global Business Centre to hear from DMG Events and WADE Canada about the opportunities for clean energy this fall.
The upcoming Global Clean Energy Congress in Calgary November 1-3 offers local business an opportunity to network with leading global firms active in advancing technologies to meet the growing needs for clean energy. In particular, the Congress and Exhibition will create a great venue for investors and technology providers in the DealMaker’s Lounge.
The collaboration for an Alberta Pavilion will mean that small and medium sized organizations that may not have the means to arrange their own exhibition space will be able to participate and will have the added profile of the provincial umbrella.
The Alberta Urban Municipality Association through the Alberta Municipal Service Corporation is taking a leadership role on this with a number of programs to support the municipalities in sustainable development, energy management, and energy efficiency.
GHG Reduction Summit :: May 16-18 | Edmonton
Climate Change and Emission Management Corporation (CCEMC) hosted nearly 200 participants from all aspects of the energy industry in Alberta, in Edmonton. The CCEMC is a not-for-profit, independent organization with a mandate to expand climate change knowledge, develop new ‘clean’ technologies and explore practical ways of implementing them. The intent of the event was to engage all stakeholders in discussion about removing the barriers to GHG reduction. The speakers and panelists challenged the participants in the areas of Technology and Innovation; Financial and Human Capital; and Public Policy to identify the questions and possible answers to move forward more quickly in diversifying the energy mix and lowering GHG emissions.
The Minister for the Environment, Hon. Rob Renner set the stage. He indicated that the GHG reduction targets without a plan agreed to in Cancun and Copenhagen needed to be supported by protocols and technology to achieve real results. Noteable presentations by Jeremy Rifkin, who presented the climate change realities; and, Josh Linkner, who provoked new thinking about innovation, set up a series of workshops where participants went to work on creating some actionable ideas on how to commercialize clean technology, attract more money to the clean energy segment, identify the policies and regulations that could advance the market adaptation.
It was clear in the sessions that there were a lot of good ideas but also a large gap to be bridged. While awareness of the issue was growing there is still not a widespread consensus on the issues let alone the solutions. There are many working on growing the clean energy markets and commercializing the technology but the efforts remain fragmented. CCEMC will take the finding from this event and work to develop a response later this year.
CED Launches Alberta Pavilion for Global Clean Energy Congress :: May 19 | Calgary
A collaboration between Edmonton and Calgary Economic Development will ensure support to local business involved in clean energy. There were roughly 40 companies who attended the launch breakfast sponsored by Calgary Economic Development in the Global Business Centre to hear from DMG Events and WADE Canada about the opportunities for clean energy this fall.
The upcoming Global Clean Energy Congress in Calgary November 1-3 offers local business an opportunity to network with leading global firms active in advancing technologies to meet the growing needs for clean energy. In particular, the Congress and Exhibition will create a great venue for investors and technology providers in the DealMaker’s Lounge.
The collaboration for an Alberta Pavilion will mean that small and medium sized organizations that may not have the means to arrange their own exhibition space will be able to participate and will have the added profile of the provincial umbrella.
