56 Luis D. Virla et al.
prices. Around 27%, or C$1.5 billion, will be directed as rebates to lower- and
middle- income Albertans to offset the carbon tax.
The future of this pathway is anticipated to provide more meaningful
employment, particularly for those transitioning out of the oil sector and for
young graduates in their early twenties entering into the labour market. There is
also significant potential for renewable resources. Alberta can be seen as a
technological innovator for energy systems by tapping into the abandoned gas
wells currently viewed as a liability for geothermal energy. There is also
potential for decentralised wind and solar power systems, primarily where
resources are more abundant in the more populated southern regions. Solar
systems can be installed in homes, while wind farms can be located on the
outskirts of the city (but not too far from the electricity demand). In essence,
this future considers that natural resources, including metals and fossil fuels, are
used in a sustainable enough manner to allow a thriving human population
capable of maintaining an equilibrium with the environment. In the words of
Karl- Henrik Robert in his book The Natural Step Story: Seeding a Quiet
Revolution (Robert, 2002):
In the sustainable society, flows of matter are balanced or, at least, not
systematically unbalanced. Natural cycles surround society and define the
limits within which we have to live. The sustainable society lives partly on
flows from nature’s production and partly on smaller flows of metals and
minerals from the Earth’s crust. Plants build up enough renewable resources
to satisfy their consumption by animals and humans.… Since (in the
sustainable society) the rate of this flow does not exceed the rate of
regeneration of resources, it can be regarded as an ‘interest rate’ from nature
rather than as a systematic toll from its ‘capital’.
Some aspects of this future are already being implemented under the Alberta
government and the Climate Leadership Plan. However, some elements remain
at a conceptual level. The Energy Futures Lab lacks specific action plans that
are made available to the general public. Instead, it is currently being
implemented by leveraging the connections and influence of its fellows to help
educate professionals in roles capable of catalysing change in the energy sector.
However, despite being co- developed by a diverse group of people, this approach
may lack a perspective on the communities most impacted by energy
development activities, for which these changes could bring the most benefits or
disadvantages. This could imply a significant challenge for implementation of
this vision. Other barriers could be the significant change of local policies to
stimulate the development of renewable energy transformations at both
individual and industry levels. Alberta, as of April 2018, approved a bill looking
into a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programme that allows property
owners to install renewable energy capabilities in their facilities financed by
property taxes, providing financial incentives for renewables development.
However, it will be up to the municipalities to decide if they want to take part
prices. Around 27%, or C$1.5 billion, will be directed as rebates to lower- and
middle- income Albertans to offset the carbon tax.
The future of this pathway is anticipated to provide more meaningful
employment, particularly for those transitioning out of the oil sector and for
young graduates in their early twenties entering into the labour market. There is
also significant potential for renewable resources. Alberta can be seen as a
technological innovator for energy systems by tapping into the abandoned gas
wells currently viewed as a liability for geothermal energy. There is also
potential for decentralised wind and solar power systems, primarily where
resources are more abundant in the more populated southern regions. Solar
systems can be installed in homes, while wind farms can be located on the
outskirts of the city (but not too far from the electricity demand). In essence,
this future considers that natural resources, including metals and fossil fuels, are
used in a sustainable enough manner to allow a thriving human population
capable of maintaining an equilibrium with the environment. In the words of
Karl- Henrik Robert in his book The Natural Step Story: Seeding a Quiet
Revolution (Robert, 2002):
In the sustainable society, flows of matter are balanced or, at least, not
systematically unbalanced. Natural cycles surround society and define the
limits within which we have to live. The sustainable society lives partly on
flows from nature’s production and partly on smaller flows of metals and
minerals from the Earth’s crust. Plants build up enough renewable resources
to satisfy their consumption by animals and humans.… Since (in the
sustainable society) the rate of this flow does not exceed the rate of
regeneration of resources, it can be regarded as an ‘interest rate’ from nature
rather than as a systematic toll from its ‘capital’.
Some aspects of this future are already being implemented under the Alberta
government and the Climate Leadership Plan. However, some elements remain
at a conceptual level. The Energy Futures Lab lacks specific action plans that
are made available to the general public. Instead, it is currently being
implemented by leveraging the connections and influence of its fellows to help
educate professionals in roles capable of catalysing change in the energy sector.
However, despite being co- developed by a diverse group of people, this approach
may lack a perspective on the communities most impacted by energy
development activities, for which these changes could bring the most benefits or
disadvantages. This could imply a significant challenge for implementation of
this vision. Other barriers could be the significant change of local policies to
stimulate the development of renewable energy transformations at both
individual and industry levels. Alberta, as of April 2018, approved a bill looking
into a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programme that allows property
owners to install renewable energy capabilities in their facilities financed by
property taxes, providing financial incentives for renewables development.
However, it will be up to the municipalities to decide if they want to take part