CanWEA is committed to working with Canada’s federal government to deliver concrete ideas for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a clean growth economy.
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) is committed to working with the federal government to deliver concrete solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a clean growth economy and welcomes the openness of the federal government to working in collaboration with the provinces and stakeholders on these challenges.
Catherine McKenna, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, used her keynote address to CanWEA’s annual Spring Forum to call for a collaborative effort to meet Canada’s climate change challenge.
“Canada has a huge opportunity to show the world what climate change leadership can accomplish, especially in areas like carbon pricing, clean tech and renewable energy,” says McKenna. “We’re committed to working with all Canadians, and the wind energy sector is an important voice and partner.”
Close to 200 wind professionals participated in the summit, held this week at the Hilton Lac Leamy Hotel in the National Capital Region. The event’s agenda focused on turning ambition into action, with industry leaders and experts weighing in on the opportunity for wind energy to help meet Canada’s environment and economic goals through measures to electrify key sectors of the economy, boost clean energy exports, and facilitate the integration of more renewables on North America’s interconnected grid.
The federal government has already taken important steps to lay a foundation for progress, says CanWEA president Robert Hornung, sending clear signals – through the Paris Agreement, the Vancouver Declaration, and the agreements for bilateral cooperation with the U.S., and tri-lateral cooperation with the U.S. and Mexico – that Canada needs to shift to a low-carbon economy and that renewable energy is an important part of the equation.
The federal government’s collaborative approach will help build on the work already underway in the provinces, he adds. Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli announced on the opening day of the summit that his province will issue a competitive tender for another 600 MW of wind, while Quebec Energy Minister Pierre Arcand signaled his plan to unveil a new long-term energy policy Thursday.
Summit participants also heard about the work Alberta and Saskatchewan are doing to wean their electricity systems off of coal-fired generation and increase their use of clean, reliable, and cost-effective wind energy.
“The federal government recognizes the opportunity that exists for a country like Canada, with the huge quantity of high-quality renewable resources that it has, to be a leader in demonstrating the energy transition that countries around the globe must make if we are going to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” says Hornung. “CanWEA looks forward to working with the all of the governments as they strive to lead Canada toward the deep cuts in emissions needed to address climate change while fostering sustainable economic growth.”
CanWEA
www.canwea.ca
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