Energize Alberta May - June 2010

Page 1

Power

Oil & Gas

Renewables

Anatomy of a transmission build-out

Something to talk about page 4

Winds of change page 23

page 12

May/June 2010

where energy, the economy, and the environment intersect

Welcome to Energize Alberta

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40069240

Bill Whitelaw Energize Alberta lexandra Siedman has never met Mike Gross. Nor has Judy Winter made the acquaintance of Ben Luft. The same can be said of Iris English and Karin Gashus. Two facts, however, bind them together: they’re Albertans—and they’re passionate about energy. In particular, they share a passion for energy literacy. That means they’ve taken on the task of understanding how energy intersects and impacts their lives beyond the light switch, gas tank, and stovetop. You’ll learn more about Alexandra Siedman’s interest in ultrasonic separation of oil from sand and water, and Mike Gross’s relationship to wind in the pages of Energize Alberta. Inside, you’ll also find out why Iris English believes clear, accurate, and trustworthy sources of energy information are critical and how Karin Gashus advocates for Albertans on power issues. You’ll connect to Ben Luft’s views on the balance of energy economics and Judy Winter’s take on the importance of landowner relations. Energize Alberta—and its website energizealberta.com— was created to facilitate new horizons of energy literacy. It’s intended to be part of the growing momentum that focuses on how increased energy knowledge and awareness can bring balance and understanding to the often complex world of energy: how it’s produced, how we consume it, and how it pervades virtually every aspect of our lives. In one sense, energy literacy is nothing new. Many organizations have been involved with literacy initiatives for many years; yet it’s fair to say there’s a fresh understanding that a higher baseline of energy knowledge is critical to how Albertans will approach future energy dialogue and the decisions that result. To do its part, Energize Alberta links rural Alberta, agricultural Alberta, and “business” Alberta in a unique energy bond. It’s a result of a unique partnership between three key members of the Glacier Media family: JuneWarrenNickle’s Energy Group, Farm Business Communications, and Great West Newspapers. Some 200,000 copies of Energize Alberta will be distributed bi-monthly to an estimated readership of 500,000 Albertans. The publication will reach into farm households, into downtown Calgary and Edmonton, and into rural communities like Okotoks, Red Deer, and Bonnyville. Its website will reach around the world. Energize Alberta is all about people and energy; it explores how many facets of our lives are tied closely to energy. Energize Alberta also moves readers beyond petroleum. Its three energy cornerstones—oil and gas, power, and renewables—form the foundation of the people-driven content that will be featured in each issue. ❯❯ continued on page 2

Ben Luft

Why does energy literacy matter? Energize Alberta asked a cross-section of Albertans—including students, farmers, landowners, educators, and government representatives—to tell us why being literate on energy matters is important. In their own words, here’s what they told us. Ben Luft is a 14-year-old who lives on a farm near Cochrane. His father works for an oil and gas company. Ben enjoys playing hockey, golfing, and working with a pair of 4-H steers he owns. Below is his essay outlining his thoughts on energy. If we didn’t have energy, life would be very different from what it is now. There would be no running water, no travelling in cars, and yes, no TV. People use energy almost constantly, and this will continue in the future. Energy development will also provide countless jobs and strengthen our economy. Energy literacy will be an important skill to have in the future because energy impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. Even if flying cars, spaceships, and other futuristic devices are common in the future, they will all need some kind of energy. Electricity will still be around

(even if it is environmentally friendly) and likely there will be some sort of polluting gas being used. The fact that we use so much energy can also add up to a large heating or electricity bill, so it is good to know as much as you can about energy to save money. Fossil fuels and nuclear energy are two of the most controversial topics in the world. The by-products of these forms of energy are slowly destroying our planet. It is a very good idea to use as many “green” sources of energy as you can, but these forms of energy are currently not economical. If there were forms of green energy that

were feasible to produce, they would be a great idea, but until that happens we will need to use some polluting sources. Many places (including Alberta) use the energy industry as their main income. The energy sector provides countless jobs from oil rig workers to electricians to geologists. It also helps the global economy with a large trade industry and investing in all other areas of our economy, whether it is the local car dealership, the local restaurant, or the

local convenience store. How many people do you know that have jobs or stocks in energy companies? The important thing about energy literacy is that energy affects us in so many ways. Energy isn’t just about turning on a light switch, it’s also about how much that energy costs, how energyefficient the light bulb is, and how many people it took to turn that switch on. Energy is always going to be a big part of all our lives, so it is important to know as much as you can about it.

Read more: There are more “Energy Essays,” written by a number of Albertans, in The Centrespread starting on page 14. www.energizealberta.com


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