Recent research suggests that between today and 2030, the wind industry will bring investment of $8.3 billion in wind energy projects in Alberta as developers—in partnership with landowners and communities—work to build a network of new facilities to cost-effectively deliver clean power to the province.
The Canadian Wind Energy Association's (CanWEA) Spring Forum 2018 will delve into these Alberta opportunities, and similar prospects in Saskatchewan, as the two provinces work to replace coal-fired generation with cleaner alternatives. The Forum will also address consultation and partnership with Indigenous communities, as well as new energy services wind energy can provide to the grid.
Speakers and panelists at the Spring Forum will also take a closer look at political perceptions of wind energy and examine the close alignment of wind energy with values and priorities across all political stripes. This includes a keynote luncheon address by the leader of the Conservative Energy Network on day two of the Forum. This coalition of U.S organizations is working to change the politics of clean energy in that country by highlighting the alignment between renewable power production and conservative values.
"You might be surprised to know that the vast majority of the wind energy brought online south of the border in recent years has been in Republican states. Believe what you want about climate change, but cost-effective energy like wind should be pursued because it makes sense whether you vote on the left or on the right," said Mark Pischea, President, Conservative Energy Network and Keynote Luncheon Speaker.
CanWEA's Spring Forum runs today and tomorrow at the Westin Calgary.
