Next Hydrogen selected for tech accelerator

BIZ  Energy  •  Technology  •  Toronto / GTA, International

Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. has been selected by Black and Veatch to participate in its IgniteX Climate Tech Accelerator program.

Corporate Knights top 100 includes 13 Canadian entries

BIZ  ESG  •  Technology  •  National, International

Corporate Knights’ annual and global top 100 most sustainable companies includes 13 Canadian companies for 2022.

The annual State of Green Business 2022 report

ESG  •  GreenBiz

We find ourselves in uncharted and unfamiliar territory. Again. The worlds we collectively inhabit — corporate sustainability, sustainable finance, the circular economy, climate tech — are all reaching inflection points, growing and changing faster than many could have imagined.

Ontario eyes hydroelectric projects as demand rises

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail  •  Water Canada

Anticipating surging demand for electricity, the Ford government has asked Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to investigate the potential for building new hydroelectric dams in Northern Ontario collaborating with the Ontario Waterpower Association, an industry lobby group, to assess the options.

B.C.’s weather in 2021 shows changing demand for power

Energy  •  Vancouver Sun

A report examining electricity demand during last year’s unprecedented weather events, B.C. Hydro says the province’s hot and cold extremes translated into more hours of peak power use on more days in 2021 than in any other year.

10-MW solar facility and microgrid for PEI Business Park

Energy  •  Energy Tech

Renewable energy developer Ameresco will guide the construction of the Slemon business park microgrid this year on Prince Edward Island that will consist of a 10-MW solar facility with direct current-coupled energy storage and co-located resources sharing the same interconnection.

Unique Illinois ‘microgrid cluster’ set to begin operating

Energy  •  Microgrid Knowledge  •  Commonwealth Edison Company Release

The Bronzeville Community Microgrid is a much-watched project that, for the first time in the US, creates a utility microgrid cluster that will link to the Illinois Institute of Technology’s microgrid allowing the grids to be independent or share power.

Bruce Power brings prosperity to surrounding area

Energy  •  Financial Post

The influx of investment at Bruce Power LP, located near Lake Huron beach country three hours northwest of Toronto, has ignited the economic fortunes of the surrounding area, bringing jobs, businesses, people, optimism, development proposals and runaway real estate prices.

Customers bring cups to avoid new Vancouver’s fee

Waste  •  Vancouver Sun

Lithion to build battery recycling plant

Waste  •  LaPresse

Quebec-based Lithion Recycling has closed the first tranche of financing of up to $125 million. The money will be used to build the world’s first commercial lithium-ion battery recycling plant that’s expected to recover up to 95 per cent of battery components.

Ottawa struggles with demand for Greener Homes Grants

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

The Canada Greener Homes Grant has been popular since its inception. Within days of its launch in May, more than 32,000 applications were submitted and by July it had grown to nearly 70,000. Ottawa is struggling to keep up with high demand.

U.K. building energy efficiency ratings challenged

Energy  •  Bloomberg

British buildings with some of the highest environmental ratings are green on paper, but on closer examination are red hot. Buildings with the highest rating for an Energy Performance Certificate might use more energy than some of their lower-ranked peers.

Farmers harvest carbon rebates from Ottawa

Carbon  •  Globe and Mail

Carbon pricing has never been popular among farmers – notably grain farmers on the Prairies who are paying a carbon charge on top of high energy costs. However, it looks like farmers have something to be happy about with carbon pricing.

Global inflation ends era of ever-cheaper clean energy

Energy  •  Bloomberg

Price declines over the past decade made renewables the cheapest sources of electricity in much of the world. In 2021, prices for solar panels have surged more than 50 per cent. Wind turbines are up 13 per cent and battery prices are rising.

Fossil fuel expansion a test for banks’ net-zero promises

Energy  •  Corporate Knights

Civil society organizations are gearing up to hold financial industry players accountable on the lofty commitments they made at COP26. The world’s biggest banks face the enormous challenge of realigning loans and investment operations to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Questerre to test Quebec’s ban on oil and gas dev.

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Canadian energy junior Questerre Energy Corp. has struck an economic development pact with an Indigenous group in Quebec to develop a zero-emissions natural gas hub on traditional First Nations territory, contrary to Quebec’s stated ban on oil and gas development.

Industrial development threatens wolverines in Alberta

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Industrial development is helping coyotes move into wolverine country and edge out the rare carnivore despite its fierce reputation. Wolverines are considered a “data deficient” animal in Alberta where recent population estimate – now 20 years old – is fewer than 1,000 animals.

Miami’s ‘Chief Heat Officer’ to keep the citizens cool

Real Estate  •  Bloomberg  •  Bloomberg

Jane Gilbert has become Miami-Dade County’s chief heat officer, the first position of its type in the U.S. — and in the world, tasked with creating a plan to protect the region’s 2.7 million residents as temperatures continue to rise.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses for public at Winter Olympics

Energy  •  H2 view

At the 2022 Winter Olympics opening soon in Beijing, China, 212 hydrogen fuel cell buses provided by the Beijing Public Transport Group will transport the public to watch the various sporting events according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Oil refiners eye algae market potentially worth $320 billion

Energy  •  Bloomberg Green

Oil refiner Eneos Holdings Inc. and Honda Motor Co. are among a group of more than 35 Japanese companies collaborating to tap the potential of microalgae to help replace fossil fuels and provide an array of food and consumer goods products.