Abstract
The Federal Government’s clean electricity regulations aimed at getting Canada’s electricity grid to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 places a heavy burden on Alberta. Ontario has its nuclear fleet and the other Provinces are well supplied by hydro, but Alberta is still over 85% supplied by natural gas and coal. The harsh truth of this policy is that is plays well politically in eastern Canada, increases the value of Quebec’s surplus hydro resources while placing 95% of the financial burden on Alberta. This has triggered a great deal of rhetoric from the politicians but little in terms of clear unbiased engineering economics. The intention of this talk is to present the total true costs and risks of the electricity production technology choices available to Alberta to meet the 2035 goal. The presentation will focus on three key issues with all hidden subsidies stripped from the economics:
- Green field cost comparison of the zero carbon generation technologies of 2035 and how it could lead to a strategy plan for Alberta’s energy policies
- The wind and solar gold rush, how Alberta’s ongoing policy of hidden subsidies is digging a deep economic hole for Albertans
- What BC Hydro is up to and why Alberta policy makers should be paying close attention
Bio
Trevor Cline, BSc
Trevor Cline is a seasoned Engineering professional with 37 years of diversified and international experience in the electrical power industry. For the past 12 years, he has provided consulting services to numerous clients ranging from large intervenor groups and utilities through to small business owners. Prior to this, he was employed at the Alberta Electric System Operator for 7 years and TransAlta Utilities for 18 years.
Trevor’s services include expert technical analysis and regulatory support for issues involving power system planning, power systems design, generation development, transmission line design, and route selection. He also has extensive experience with utility capital budget management, utility rates applications, asset acquisitions and generation development. Trevor has proven communications skills with extensive experience at public speaking, public relations and acting as a regulatory witness.
Trevor has appeared before utility boards and commissions twenty-four times as an expert witness. He has testified on numerous subjects such as transmission expansion need, transmission congestion, transmission line route selection, capital expenditure forecasts, energy and demand forecasts, depreciation life analysis, prudence of expenditures, and transmission line design optimization.
Venue
7pm, October 11th, 2023.