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National Observer
14-05-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Cleantech industry urges Carney cabinet to proceed with 'ambition'
Canadian industry came out united in its support for the federal cabinet named Tuesday by Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney. But for sectors ranging from renewable energy to cleantech and EVs, leaders of business advocacy bodies said the government's 'ambition' must be closely followed by 'action' if Canada's energy transition is to get back on track. Topics top-of-mind for industry associations included finalizing the clean economy investment tax credit – drafted last year but in limbo since parliament was prorogued in March – building nationwide energy infrastructure; removing interprovincial trade barriers; streamlining project regulatory frameworks; and restarting a struggling EV strategy. Carney, speaking to reporters after his cabinet was announced, said: 'We will reinforce bridges across labour, business and civil society, and together, we will advance the nation-building investments that will support the core mission of this government, which is to create the strongest economy in the G7, an economy that works for everyone." His government would take 'immediate action with immediate legislation' to fast-track 'nation-building' investments that contribute to building one Canadian economy out of 13 [provincial and territorial ones]," Carney said. Renewable energy roll-out Fernando Melo, federal director of policy and government affairs at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, which represents almost 350 companies in the wind, solar and energy storage sectors, said the government must first ensure the clean economy tax credit is 'finalized and improved.' 'These improvements range from making it easier for [clean energy sector companies] to know what a prevailing wage in an area is – so that they can ensure they are paying their teams correctly – to the creation of a domestic content adder for the [investment tax credits] that would help developers buy Canadian and stimulate investments in Canada,' he said. Canadian industry were united in support for the federal cabinet named Tuesday by Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney. Here's what industry leaders are asking the ministers to focus on: Melo said he's keeping an eye on the promised First and Last Mile Fund and One Project, One Review policies which aim to accelerate the development of major energy and mining plays across the country. These "crucial" programs would help harness new energy resources and build transmission infrastructure 'to get electricity from its point of generation to where it is needed," he said. Cleantech catalysts Lynn Cote, executive director of the Canadian Cleantech Alliance, which advocates for the country's cleantech sector, echoed Melo's view on the importance of finalizing the clean economy investment tax credit, establishing one oversight body to coordinate federal permitting practices, and easing interprovincial regulatory burdens. She said using Canada's Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative to provide more early-stage access to capital for 'energy transition innovators' would be a key win for the sector because it would enshrine practices such as the 'Buy Canadian" procurement of clean technologies. Charge up EV supply chain On the same day that Honda paused its $15 billion plan to develop an electric vehicle (EV) supply chain in Ontario due to 'changing market conditions' from slowing EV sales and US auto tariffs, Matthew Fortier, CEO of Accelerate ZEV, said the new cabinet must move fast to stabilize the auto sector, which employs 125,000 workers. 'It will be vital for new ministers to work closely with Canadian industry to fast-forward our critical minerals and materials sectors, our battery sector and double-down on innovation in globally significant industries like batteries and EVs,' said Fortier, whose business development body supports Canada's zero-emission vehicle ambitions. 'This is an enormous opportunity for Canada to advance big projects [in these sectors]." Going big on green building The Liberal plan to double Canada's current rate of residential construction over the next decade to 500,000 homes a year – the country's biggest building campaign since the Second World War – was a chance for the new government to 'pivot in shaping a more sustainable, resilient and affordable future for all Canadians,' said Thomas Mueller, CEO of the Canada Green Build Council (CAGBC), a national sustainable construction body. The head of the influential Business Council of Canada, Goldy Hyder, said Ottawa needed to show ' ambition and action ' to accelerate approvals for trade and energy infrastructure projects and eliminate interprovincial barriers if it wants to build 'a stronger, more competitive' Canada through the energy transition. 'With new leadership comes fresh opportunity – but also immediate responsibility,' Hyder said. Marty Warren, national director of the United Steel Workers union representing 225,000 workers in Canada, said the new cabinet must put in place 'a forward-looking industrial strategy and policies to protect and create good union jobs, [and] invest in domestic manufacturing and infrastructure' in the face of damaging US tariffs. 'This is not the time for symbolic gestures. The government must respond with real investments, stronger trade enforcement, and clear support for Canadian industries and workers,' Warren said. He called for stronger domestic procurement rules that prioritize Canadian-made materials and support unionized labour, along with investments in infrastructure and strategic industries.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New report reveals surprising change in long-running trend in global energy use: 'Puts some clear facts on the table'
Global energy use surged in 2024, and a new report from the International Energy Agency offers the clearest picture yet of why. In its new Global Energy Review, the IEA reports that global energy demand grew by 2.2% last year, which is well above the 1.3% annual average of the previous decade. The biggest driver of this increase was electricity use, fueled by "emerging and developing economies," along with record-breaking heat waves that sent air conditioner use soaring, more data centers, and more electric vehicles (though the report also noted that EVs and other clean tech have significantly reduced demand for dirty energy that creates heat-trapping pollution). The surge even reversed a long-running trend: Advanced economies such as the U.S. and parts of Europe, which had seen energy use decline for years, are using more again. "This new data-driven IEA report puts some clear facts on the table about what is happening globally. … Electricity use is growing rapidly, pulling overall energy demand along with it to such an extent that it is enough to reverse years of declining energy consumption in advanced economies," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement. To keep up, more affordable energy sources such as solar and wind are playing a major role. Together with nuclear, renewable sources made up 80% of the increase in global electricity generation in 2024, per the report. And, for the first time ever, they provide 40% of all electricity worldwide. Other reports corroborate this data, including the Canadian Renewable Energy Association's recent announcement that solar, wind, and battery storage in Canada jumped by nearly 50% in five years. This momentum has ripple effects. Electricity demand pushed gas use significantly higher, though the growth in oil demand slowed. This is partly because 1 in 5 new cars sold last year were electric, according to the IEA. Even with the world's economy growing, harmful carbon emissions from energy use rose only slightly and fell by 1.1% in advanced countries. Another recent study found that if we go all in on clean energy, we could cut energy costs by nearly 60% and certain pollution-related social impacts, including on health, by more than 90%. Do you think the U.S. should tax goods from China? Definitely No way Only certain goods I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The Global Energy Review shows that, at the very least, we're taking steps in the direction of a cleaner, healthier planet. "The strong expansion of solar, wind, nuclear power and EVs is increasingly loosening the links between economic growth and emissions," Birol added. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report reveals impressive change in massive energy markets: 'We expect to see significantly more growth'
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association announced Jan. 30 that the country's wind, solar, and energy storage markets had grown 46% over five years. The industry's installed capacity reached 24 gigawatts at the end of December, Electrical Business reported, for an increase of almost 7.6 GW since 2020. This shift is largely thanks to 4.7 GW of utility-scale wind. Utility-scale solar has jumped by 2 GW, with 600 megawatts of onsite solar and 200 MW of energy storage making up the rest. Do you think a majority of Americans will have EVs in 20 years? Absolutely Only in some states No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The Great White North is expected to add 10,000 MW of wind, solar, and energy storage by 2030 and 5,000 MW after that. This amounts to a $30 billion investment in clean energy, according to the CanREA news release. The outlay will support the country's economy and protect the environment by "establishing resilient, sustainable infrastructure," CanREA President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo said, noting that the agency has asked provinces and territories to speed up the build-out of decarbonization projects to electrify the grid and help realize a clean energy future. This is necessary because of the fast-rising temperatures around the globe. The burning of dirty fuels for energy also releases toxic, polluting, and heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, which envelop Earth like a blanket. The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred in the last decade, and it's throwing the climate out of whack, causing increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather as well as rising seas. No matter where you live, you can follow Canada's lead by installing solar panels or investing in community solar; taking public transportation, cycling, and walking instead of driving a car; and using less plastic. All these steps help chart a path to a cleaner future. "Canada's wind, solar, and energy storage industry grew impressively over the past five years — and we expect to see significantly more growth in the next five years," Bellissimo said. "But this is not nearly enough. Canada has massive, untapped wind and solar resources that can and should be harnessed to provide the affordable, clean, scalable electricity needed in all jurisdictions." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
