Ahmed Badruddin

Michael Barnard refers to "sensible centrist Liberals" then lambastes them for $25B on hydrogen, failed fossil fuel subsidies termination and spending $34B on Trans Mountain. There is also the $5-7 billion for CCUS. At COP28, the Liberals rejected an inclusion in the final statement a phasing out of oil and gas production. The Liberal cap on O&G emissions allows for an increase in production by 2030. The Guilbeault explanation for a cap is on emissions, not production, is such that the provinces would challenge the federal government in court. But the provinces challenged the federal government in court over the carbon tax and the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the government of Canada. Tar sands production is projected to peak between 2030 and 2040. The Bay du Nord approval represents another billion barrels of oil. The Liberals approved 735,000 km² off the Newfoundland coast for oil exploration, exempt from the Impact Assessment Act.  The Liberal methane reduction strategy doesn’t provide for measurement, reporting and verification regulations, leaving the strategy toothless. The Canadian EV mandates for 2026 and 2030 are rather timid. A half dozen plastic products targeted under the plastics strategy is pathetic. In a multi-party political landscape, without some form of mixed proportional/regional representation, many believe they must vote for the lesser of 2 evils because a vote for what one want may be “wasted” and/or support the greater of 2 evils. Wasting one’s vote is especially prominent in fortress ridings when one prefers another party. One third of Liberal votes are not for Liberals (largely NDP sympathizers) but for blocking the Conservatives. Voting for a “third” party in most English Canada ridings typically doesn’t count for anything. In Quebec francophone majority ridings, votes for parties other than the Bloc don’t count. Jagmeet Singh has failed to represent his own party. Canada has 2 Conservative parties, subservient to powerful lobbies, so the official Conservatives have had to swing further to the right to be distinct. No wonder 40-50% of Canadians don’t vote.

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After an extensive exploration of energy affordability in Canada, we're at a pivotal moment to pause and assess our progress. Consider this: what if we removed sales tax from utility bills (recognizing utilities as necessities), lifted the carbon tax from generation (because electrification should not come with added costs), and adopted the energy efficiency practices of countries like Sweden? The results are striking. These changes could significantly equalize the energy burden across Canada, making energy more affordable for everyone. It’s a vision worth striving for. #efficiency #homeenergy #carbontax #gst #energyburden #Canada #energypolicy

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On climate, Canada's Budget 2024 contains too much greenwashing. The environmental impact assessment process will be modified to facilitate a “pro-growth culture".   The 15% refundable tax credit for clean hydrogen is portrayed as a low-emitting electricity generation system encompassing natural gas with CCUS, or blue hydrogen. Th blue hydrogen subsidy is a stunt to increase gas production.  Blue hydrogen is twice the price of grey hydrogen and environmentally sound applications of hydrogen are few.   Budget 2024 aims to resuscitate the nuclear sector including small modular reactors (SMRs). This supports the ambitions of 1) Ontario Premier Doug Ford and 2) Trudeau to recapture Ontario voter interest, currently lost to the Conservatives. That nuclear capacity as a percentage of global power generation declined by half, from 17% in 2000 to 9% in 2022, is besides the point.”.   Never mind the Ontario Pickering station refurbishing of the first two of four unit A reactors went C$1.5B over budget. The Ford administration wants to refurbish all four Pickering Unit B reactors.   The Ontario Darlington plant will be furbished too, despite the Darlington station initial cost was C$14.5B, 4 times the original estimated amount.   As for SMRs, they cannot not achieve the necessary economies for a manufacturing scale, aren’t faster to construct, are inefficient and decommissioning is slow plus expensive.  Maybe SMR tech can be scaled up to be commercially viable in 2030. Four SMRs will be built at the Darlington site, one presently under construction.   Despite the expensive setbacks of Canada’s CANDU reactors, the government will provide export financing for C$3B to construct 2 CANDU reactors in Romania. A feature of Budget 2024 is making eligible those projects using waste and biomass to generate heat and electricity. Recycling landfill gas to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) is a natural gas industry ploy to present itself with a climate conscious. RNG is a greenwashing solution for several reasons, among them: RNG emits GHGs with a higher content of methane than raw biogas, which makes it comparable to conventional natural gas; the technology to make the conversion is expensive, grossly uncompetitive with conventional natural gas: and RNG availability is not sufficient. . On biofuels, Budget 2024 states “Biofuels and biogas are renewables if made from plants or bio-waste, such as canola crops and landfill emissions.”  Applications cited are marine, aviation, rail, and heavy industry and renewable natural gas. But the amount of carbon produced for making biofuels is greater than natural gas or coal. And biofuel consumption generates as much air pollution as the fossil fuels they replace. Biofuels from agricultural land would compete with food crops. Biofuels derived from algae and seaweed have yet to tackle scalability. The environmental bottom line of Canada's Budget 2024 is, at best, nil. Julia Levin Michael Barnard

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Electric heat strips are the perfect complement to heat pumps. ⚡ In central Ontario, I recommend heat pumps with electric backup in most houses (there are edge cases where dual fuel systems are appropriate). A slightly undersized heat pump provides the best comfort and homeowner experience-- it's a better fit for older ductwork, it's easier to install without changes to the electrical panel, and it's better at load matching and dehumidification. So what's the key to installing the right-sized (slightly too small) heat pump? Pairing it with an electric heat strip. 💡 If a house has a 28,000 BTU/hr heat load at design temperatures, a 2-ton heat cold climate heat pump with 5 kW heat strip is a better solution than a 2.5-ton heat pump with or without backup heat. And it's *definitely* better than the 5-ton gas furnace that the average HVAC contractor will recommend. Heat strips allow you to size HVAC systems aggressively (the opposite of conservative sizing to oversized equipment). It's a ~$200 safety net that lets you confidently choose the best system for your house. Every part of a heat pump requires good installation and commissioning practices from HVAC contractors-- the heat strip is just one of the steps. ✅ #FeelGoodHomes #HeatStrips #HeatPumps #HVACcontractors

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BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT PIPELINES AND HEADLINES LATELY... Specifically, contemplating pipeline technology systems transition and pipeline history; how they're inextricably interconnected and why we're not better at using past performance to forecast trusted future change. Here's the context: the massive capacity expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline and its concomitant opportunity to open global markets for Canadian petroleum molecules is all the news of the moment. Trans Mountain's expansion is filling up, anticipating first molecular movement next month. But it was the original Trans Mountain, completed in 1953, that first helped crack the global markets nut. Yes indeed. Canada has sent oil to markets other than the United States before. For quite a few years, actually. The opportunity volume and scale differences with capacity expansion are, of course, substantive. But the point is about foundations. Without the first Trans Mountain foundation, there would be no expansion. Seems obvious. But arguably there would no Trans Mountain (the first) or other major pipelines without lessons learned during the Turner Valley oil boom, from 1914 to circa 1949. Indeed, the Turner Valley experience writ large, through three markedly different development phases, influenced much about how energy transition took root in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin many decades past. Royalite, an Imperial Oil subsidy, built the first gas pipeline from Turner Valley to Okotoks in 1921. There, it connected with an existing gas pipeline from Bow Island to Calgary. This new transportation utility kicked off a concerted reduction in the flaring practice of "waste" gas. A few years later, in 1925, an oil pipeline was built from "the Valley" to a refinery in Calgary as the hunt for higher value liquids continued. Barrels, tanker trucks and rail transport faded into the shadows. Market growth begat transportation system expansion and the various technology evolutions required to keep economics front and centre started evolving and transitioning. So too did environmental regulations. By 1942, when Turner Valley was producing 95 per cent of Canada's oil, a complex system of pipelines was growing in lockstep. And the focus on system integrity and safety moved in tandem. To the degree that pipelines have become the target of activist ire, as a sector, that's on us for not using our pre-existing transition history to build a compelling narrative. It's not too late as we move into an era of even more accelerated change and the role of pipelines in terms of energy security and stability is ever more critical. When was the last time you saw a section of pipe transported by horsepower, literally? #history #pipelines #safety #integrity Larry Y. Brian Hall Giovanna Schipani, CWS Rick (Richard) Tofani BSc Eng MBA Evan Bahry Dawn Farrell Matt Quist Dennis McConaghy

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Recent regulatory changes are reshaping the landscape for renewable energy projects. From buffer zones and an 'agriculture first' approach to new costs and participation rights, the rules are creating new challenges and opportunities. At BD&P, we're at the forefront of these developments, providing expert advice to energy entrepreneurs and corporations navigating this complex regulatory environment. Learn more about how BD&P can help your business thrive amidst Alberta's evolving energy regulations. #EnergySector #RenewableEnergy #Cleantech #RegulatoryUpdates #Alberta https://lnkd.in/gMYvv-Tg

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Decarbonization threatens electricity generation stability! Modern life requires energy. AI will require more electricity than all the steal and aluminum plants combined. And we need to add EV! Hydro power is down because of drought. Renewables are at risk because of climate change. We need a strong energy mix with nuclear and gas. Gas could be renewable.. #energynow #decarbonisation #electricity #powergeneration https://lnkd.in/eRVWd_5W

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After an extensive exploration of energy affordability in Canada, we're at a pivotal moment to pause and assess our progress. Consider this: what if we removed sales tax from utility bills (recognizing utilities as necessities), lifted the carbon tax from generation (because electrification should not come with added costs), and adopted the energy efficiency practices of countries like Sweden? The results are striking. These changes could significantly equalize the energy burden across Canada, making energy more affordable for everyone. It’s a vision worth striving for.

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While CDN has a carbon tax and has been convinced to keep its oil and gas resources in the ground by US based climate NGOs, & buys wind/solar/EVs/heatpumps from China, the US in direct contrast has no carbon tax & became the largest exporter of oil and gas in the world in 2023. And most recently has enacted tariffs on goods from China. Is it any wonder our currency is being devalued?

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THE BIGGEST THREAT TO CANADA’S ENERGY FUTURE ISN’T POLITICS, POLICY OR POLLUTION… It’s people. Or more specifically, the looming lack thereof. I sat on a decarbonization panel discussion earlier this week about external threats to major projects, and as you might suspect, there was lots of talk about government incentives, investor concerns and tightening regulatory frameworks etc. etc. etc. But nothing about human capital risk. I made this point emphatically: none of other risk considerations matter unless the energy sector – and more specifically, oil and gas – figures out how to turn the human capital tap from its current trickle back to a healthy flow. In a variation on the old adage, I asked: which comes first, the right workforce with the right skills…or all the fretting about risk? Right now, the needs-versus-fulfillment numbers are scary indeed. Thankfully, more and more conference providers have figured out it is a risk and are making it a content-and-conversation priority. So, thanks to Jason Langrish and The Energy Roundtable for creating a panel discussion around the topic. On May 16, I will moderate vigorous discussions between three passionate voices: Murray Elliott, CEO of Energy Safety Canada, Dale Hansen, dean of the MacPhail School of Energy at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Craig Watt, vice-president, operations, of Enserva. Here’s the pitch for our panel: Navigating the evolving energy landscape and workforce needs: This panel discussion will consider the shifting dynamics of Canada’s energy industry and how Alberta can continue to be a key player in Canada’s economy. Adapting to the dual challenge of satisfying rising demands for secure, affordable energy and honoring commitments to carbon reduction, the industry is undergoing significant transformation. The panel will discuss the substantial demand for skilled talent, with research indicating a projected net hiring of approximately 110,000 to 116,000 positions from 2022 to 2035. Panelists will provide their insights into navigating Canada’s energy industry toward sustainability and prosperity, from enhancing workforce capabilities to harnessing innovative solutions. Much of our discussion will focus on work recently done by Careers in Energy, a division of Energy Safety Canada to research what Canada's energy needs will be out to 2050 and what the workforce will be required to match those needs. Of course, our panel is nestled within a bunch of other great discussions that will be the backbone of the Roundtable's 19th edition here in Calgary. You can find out more and register at: https://lnkd.in/dV_59bZw Dawn Farrell Dr. Lance Mortlock Avik Dey Heather Exner-Pirot Erin Madro Michael Belenkie Chana Martineau BA, ICD.D Jeff Pearson Dan Balaban Deborah Yedlin

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***LEGISLATED! - EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS: CCUS, Clean Technology, Hydrogen & Clean Technology Manufacturing ITCs*** Tonight, following our CleanTech North webinar on the Clean Technology Tax Credits, the Senate of Canada | Sénat du Canada not only adopted Bill C-69, but Royal Assent was given by the Governor General shortly before 8pm EST for both this bill and Bill C-59. This means that the first FOUR Clean Economy tax credits have been passed into legislation. Canada has now taken the first step to our greener future, unlocking the #CCUS, #CleanTechnology, #Hydrogen and the #CleanTechnologyManufacturing ITCs with these credits representing the majority of the estimated $93 billion in Clean Economy Tax Credits. Companies adopting or manufacturing any of the clean technology properties referenced in these Bills can now claim tax credits based on what became available for use after the respective date of their implementation (as far back as Jan 1, 2022). We will be providing more details, but for now we are simply celebrating the first step towards our greener future. To stay up informed, or get more information, sign up at: https://lnkd.in/dATYkmhB CleanTech North Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association Venbridge

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100% concur with Diego Mandelbaum on this issue. A recurring problem is that policy makers have a blind spot on thermal energy. They wrongly assume that electricity policy is energy policy and vice versa. This myopia results not only in higher consumer costs but inferior capital deployment and deleterious environmental outcomes. We need to break the fever of “electrify everything” through ardent advocacy and education.

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WE'RE GOING TO DESIGN CANADA'S FIRST "DISC" FOR OIL AND GAS...AND WE NEED YOUR HELP! DISC stands for Decarbonization Innovation S Curve, and while such models aren't new in technology change considerations, they haven't typically "been a thing" in Canadian oil and gas evolution. A very cool workshop we're running at the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) May 23 will seek to take that first step to a DISC way of thinking. I will moderate an innovators panel of Geoff Clark of Acceleware Ltd., Jane Cavanagh P.Eng. M.Sc. of Scovan and Ian MacGregor of Hydrogen Naturally using S Curve frameworks to guide our discussions. So, what's an S curve anyway? And why are they useful? There are variations on the theme, of course, but in a nutshell, the "curviness" and elasticity of the "S" provides a metaphorical map of sorts on which key actors can plot steep and shallow progress and change trajectories in time and space. There are cycles within cycles, but all move along the S at different rates. S curves can also be critical collaboration mechanisms via which innovators can match and align with critical sectoral inflection points mapped to economic, political and regulatory change. This 2021 FutureBusinessTech article sums up things up nicely: https://lnkd.in/g5gxvU-R Irish economist and former Shell exec Charles Handy's "Sigmoid Curve" thinking is another useful heuristic to understand the power of "S" thinking. Here's one view of his thinking: https://lnkd.in/gByPbdHw Our workshop is intended to be a two-way dialogue between the panel and audience on how to create better best-practice tools for innovators seeking to accelerate #decarbonization efforts in Canadian #oilandgas. While we will use Acceleware Ltd.'s industrial heating technology as a focal-point proxy to catalyse discussion, the workshop is intended to kick start broader thinking and build better #cleantech bridges between innovators and buyers. An S Curve framework may provide a useful way of mapping to a collaborative future. You can find out more and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gnPn59t6 Amber Hark Cheryl Trudell PhD, PEng, FCAE Glen McCrimmon Craig Stenhouse Lyndy Groom Sally Dawoud, PEng, MEng, PMP, MBA Grace Clark Allan Fogwill Stephen Arseniuk Nannette Ho-Covernton

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Exciting updates from today’s Government of Canada announcement! 🇨🇦 https://lnkd.in/gF76Gy6K 💚 One of the standout aspects for me is the inclusion of transition economic activities, broadening the focus beyond just “green” initiatives. This more inclusive approach will empower industries to evolve sustainably while recognizing the complexities of transformation. Additionally, aligning private companies with the financial disclosure requirements of public companies is a crucial step forward in enhancing transparency and accountability across the board. For us at 7 Centre, we’ve been preparing to support businesses of all sizes as they gear up for the information needed to access government incentives. For SMEs in Canada, these guidelines are particularly important because they open up opportunities for green financing and low-carbon projects. Businesses that align with these standards can secure new funding, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to decarbonizing high-emission sectors. There’s still much work ahead, but this is a pivotal moment for Canada’s economic resilience and sustainability. Government of Canada Connect with our team today, and Open to the World! https://lnkd.in/gGJFZeGF https://lnkd.in/gFbbj_AZ

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