Green Energy Futures

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376. EVs are driving down the price of electricity for all consumers Apr 24, 2024

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This sounds counterintuitive, but a new study has found Electric Vehicles (EVs) are driving the price of electricity down and increasing net profits for utilities. Thanks to time-of-use pricing EV owners are shifting their charging habits to non-peak times thus making much more efficient use of existing grid resources. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Video Podcast

375. The Energy Mix - 30,000 stories on climate change - interview wth Mitchell Beer Apr 16, 2024

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Mitchell Beer started The Energy Mix, a media service dedicated to covering climate change 10 years ago long before the conventional media took it seriously. We talk to Beer about climate change, journalism, and his media service which has published 30,000 stories on climate change and climate solutons. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

374. EV Lifecycle Emissions - lower, here, there and everywhere Apr 02, 2024

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EVs produce fewer lifecycle emissions than ICE vehicles in countries with dirty grids or clean grids. A study looked at emissions in five countries including China, the US, UK, Germany and Japan and found EVs produce much lower emissions throughout the life of the vehicle. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

373B. Alberta's new renewable energy rules - $14 billion in projects at risk? Mar 26, 2024

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In part 2 of our series on Alberta's new renewable energy rules we learn that 57 projects worth $14 billion are potentially at risk. We talk to Jason Wang of the Pembina Institute which just prepared a map overlay showing the potential impact of new restrictions. We also talk to Vittoria Bellissimo of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association about changes that are coming to the structure of the electricity market in Alberta. Bottom line is uncertainty abounds for Alberta's formerly booming renewable energy industry. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast See our website for the full story.

373A. Alberta's new renewable energy rules - a red tape solution in search of a problem? Mar 19, 2024

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At first glance, new rules for renewable energy development in Alberta seemed ready to block renewable energy from most of the province. Two weeks on some clarifications have been announced. We talk to Vittoria Bellissimo with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association about restrictions on agricultural land, near so-called "pristine viewscapes" and protected areas. Spoiler alert industry observers worry investment will plummet in an industry with billions in investments planned last year. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast See our website for the full story.

372. Floating solar filling important niche around the world Mar 13, 2024

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Ciel & Terre is making a splash with floating solar having installed more than 300 projects around the world. It costs just a little more than mounted solar but its helping utilities, companies and municipalities generate renewable energy where there is no land or roof space. We talk to Chris Bartle of Ciel & Terre US about this growing industry. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

371. Alberta lifts moratorium on renewable energy, but are new rules a poison pill for the industry? Mar 08, 2024

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Alberta lifted it's six-month moratorium on renewable energy projects but some critics say new rules amount to a defacto moratorium. This is ironic since Alberta had a booming industry with up to $33 billion in projects under development at the time of the moratorium. We talk to renewable energy expert Dr. Sara Hastings-Simon of the University of Calgary about the new rules and the impacts they may have on the renewable energy industry in Alberta. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

370B. RenuWell - Solar on abandoned oil wells powers irrigation Feb 26, 2024

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Part 2 in Green Energy Futures' series on RenuWell, the idea of transforming abandoned oil wells into small solar farms. In this episode, we talk to Trevor Helwig of St. Mary River Irrigation District, the owner of the two RenuWell solar pilot projects. Irrigation and solar are a good match since they both work hardest when the sun shines. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

370. RenuWell - Transforming abandoned oil wells into solar farms - Part 1 Feb 22, 2024

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Of the 466,000 oil and gas wells in Alberta on third are active and 170,000 are suspended or abandoned. What to do? Keith Hirsche was a farm kid from Taber, Alberta and his company RenuWell wrapped up two pilot projects to transform a couple of long-abandoned well sites into small solar farms which are now owned by St. Mary's Irrigation District. We visit the sites with Daryl Bennett from RenuWell and discover one of the most amazing examples of energy transition anywhere. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast In part 2 we talk to Trevor Hellwig of St. Mary's Irrigation District the folks who own these two projects. Turns out solar and irrigation are a perfect match.

369. How a small town went net-zero after being told solar wouldn't work Feb 12, 2024

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The town of Raymond, Alberta was told solar wouldn't work on their buildings in their town in southern Alberta. This didn't sit right with them, so they hired new consultants, installed solar everywhere and became the first community in Canada to achieve net-zero electricity. We talk to Greg Robinson of the Town of Raymond about how they did it. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

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