Early in 2023, CACOR member Dr Geoff Strong wrote to Canada’s Prime Minister about NEAR-zero Emissions, not NET-zero, through Energy Conversions to renewables.
In June, he received a response.
People will interpret the response differently. Dr Strong said, “At least this time it only took 4 months+ for the response, as opposed to 10 months for my 2022 letter. However, I would have expected the response to come from Dept. of Environment and CCC, although I copied it to both Mr Guilbeault and Mr Wilkinson (so perhaps I’ll get a second letter from Guilbeault’s department, but I won’t hold my breath).”
In email exchange with other members, Dr Strong went on to say, “On the surface, the letter appears to respond well to my urging to emphasize more for converting our energy sources over to renewable energy, since the ADM mentions the growth in renewable energy deployment, but maddeningly, there are no data (how much growth) mentioned in the letter.
She also does not directly address my criticism of the lack of progress on the pace needed to reach net-zero by 2050, simply repeating the old catch-phrase of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act––again no data.
Thankfully, the response at least DOES talk about their growth in renewable energy deployment, but the lack of data leaves one simply guessing. The positive thing about this is that the responses speak more about renewables, where previous responses (in 2021 and 2022) did not even mention them. For this change I am hopeful.
I briefly looked at the webpage listed on p. 2 of the response, and here are some data:
- Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) provides up to $1.56 billion over eight years.
- Program has signed contribution agreements for 88 deployment and capacity building projects totaling $967M in funding.
- SREPs provides up to a maximum of $25M to eligible renewable energy and grid modernization projects during the construction phase.
- 38 approved deployment projects have Indigenous ownership, representing over $700 M in program contributions and an estimated 14,000 job-years.
- The Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) provides $680 million (2019) initiative to increase availability of localized charging and hydrogen refueling opportunities; administered through three key funding streams and is available until 2027.
- On April 25, 2022, an additional $300 million was announced, available through 2027, to further support clean energy projects in Indigenous, rural and remote communities.”
[Suffice to say, the response was not entirely satisfactory. Ed.]
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