EvC Bonus-HOT TOPIC: Alberta Electricity Update

Another BONUS Podcast Episode!

The electricity file has been popping, especially in Alberta, where on a weekly basis a clash of worldviews on the future of electricity generation is on full display. A year ago, Sara's University of Calgary colleague, Dr. Blake Shaffer, helped us to make sense of the role of electrification in the 2023 federal budget. We thought it worthwhile circling back to Blake, to unpack the many electricity developments that have dominated headlines since. David's still away this month, so once again it's Sara and Ed chatting with Blake.

About Our Guest

Blake Shaffer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at The University of Calgary. He works on electricity markets, climate policy, and energy transitions, and frequently provides policy advice to governments at various levels. Prior to his return to academia, Blake had a 15 year career in energy trading, specializing in electricity, natural gas and emissions markets.

Show Notes

00:02:44 – Alberta’s new renewable energy rules could ban projects from large swaths of land in the province

00:04:26 – AUC inquiry into the ongoing economic, orderly and efficient development of electricity generation in Alberta

00:09:00 – Assessing potential impact of Alberta's proposed viewscapes and agricultural land restrictions for renewable energy

00:10:20 – Alberta brings in new restrictions on renewable power projects as moratorium set to end Thursday (Feb 28)

00:13:01 – Energy and Environmental Policy Trends: Farms or Solar Farms?

00:18:56 – Public Update: ‘What We Heard’ during consultations and directions being considered for the final regulations

00:24:13 – Rotating brownouts leave thousands of Albertans without power Friday

00:27:52 – Transmission Policy Review: Delivering the Electricity of Tomorrow

00:31:03 – Power Flows: Transmission Lines and Corporate Profits

00:31:44 – Replacing The Utility Transmission Syndicate’s Control

00:33:38 – Improving integration and coordination of provincially-managed electricity systems in Canada

00:34:15 – Alberta's Renewable Electricity Program: Design, results, and lessons learned

00:35:30 – A Made-in-Canada Plan: Affordable Energy, Good Jobs, and a Growing Clean Economy

00:37:07 – Market Design for the 21st Century: Recommendations for Alberta’s Power Market

About Your Hosts:

Sara Hastings-Simon studies energy transitions at the intersection of policy, business, and technology. She’s a policy wonk, a physicist turned management consultant, and a professor at the University of Calgary and Director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development.

Ed Whittingham is a clean energy policy/finance professional specializing in renewable electricity generation and transmission, carbon capture, carbon removal and low carbon transportation. He is a Public Policy Forum fellow and formerly the executive director of the Pembina Institute, a national clean energy think tank.

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