As Calgary seeks to become a hub for a transitional energy industry, a new hub focusing on clean energy in the city’s downtown has received a major boost.
Federal ministers, along with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, were on hand on Wednesday to announce a federal investment of more than $ 3 million for the clean technology sector in Alberta, including more than $ 2.1 million to help fund the Energy Transition Center.
Another $ 900,000 has been earmarked for the Foresight clean technology accelerator, to provide training and investment attractiveness for clean technology companies in Alberta.
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“We are moving in the direction of seriously harnessing the potential of Calgary’s energy sector – the technology we have in this sector for the future of energy second,” said Chancellor of the University of Calgary, Deborah Yedlin. “This is our Wayne Gretzky moment, we ask where the puck is going.”
The Energy Transition Center will occupy an entire vacant floor at the Ampersand Building in Calgary’s downtown.
Except for any issues with COVID-19, officials said the plan is for the center to open on March 1st.
“This innovation hub will help small and medium-sized enterprises to develop clean energy technologies that will help meet a growing global demand for environmentally friendly products and processes,” said Daniel Vandal, Federal Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. .
According to officials, the Energy Transition Center will be a space to connect Canadian energy companies with clean energy start-ups, innovators and investors with access resources and experts in the field.
Federal officials hope the center will help create 25 new businesses in the clean energy sector over the next three years.
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Calgary’s mayor said the investment both boosts the city’s efforts to become an energy transition center, as well as its work to revive the city center.
“We see bold, innovative and collaborative ideas emerging inspired by entrepreneurial Calgarians,” Gondek said. “It will be a catalyst for success in terms of Calgary’s leadership in climate protection and energy transformation, as well as our downtown revival.”
According to a study on energy transition released in December, a clean energy sector could create 170,000 jobs and contribute up to $ 61 billion to the province’s GDP by 2050. However, the study also estimates a path to net zero will be $ 2. 1 billion annual investment required by 2030, increased to $ 5.5 billion by 2040.
Although Wednesday’s announcement was encouraging for some experts, there is some conviction that policy changes and not just funding will be the key to a successful clean energy sector in the province.
“There are ways governments can use financial instruments to provide guarantees that can stimulate much more investment to prove new technologies, and also to ensure that support is structured fairly,” said Calgary University, chief executive of Sustainable Energy Development. Sara Hastings-Simon said.
“We’re going to be in a world that looks very different from an energy perspective in a few years from now, so we do not have much time left to really wait – we really need to prepare now for that future. ”
The investment was also welcomed by Alberta’s opposition NDP, which was also critical of the notable absence of the provincial government during the announcement.
“There is no investment from the province in this initiative. Why is the UCP haunting Alberta’s efforts to diversify the economy and promote clean energy? ” NDP energy critic Kathleen Ganley said in a statement.
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A spokesman for the Ministry of Employment, the Economy and Innovation said the province was not involved in the announcement because there was no provincial funding for the initiative.
“We remain committed to responsible energy development, reducing emissions and supporting jobs,” Alberta Government spokeswoman Tricia Velthuizen said in a statement to Global News. “Through innovation and technology, the industry can continue to reduce emissions, even with increased oil and gas production.”
According to Vandal, the federal government is looking at projects with Alberta’s provincial government and that both are “in line with job creation and the diversification of the economy.”
“Those consultations and communications are taking place,” Vandal said. “All levels of government must be on the same page.”
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Reference-globalnews.ca