CANADA NEEDS U.S.-LIKE NEW ENERGY MONEY

Canada falling behind U.S. in clean-energy efforts: experts
Mike De Souza, December 26, 2009 (Vancouver Sun)

"The Harper government is distancing itself from U.S. President Barack Obama’s clean-energy agenda, warn some of those involved in one of Canada fastest-growing clean-energy sectors…[New Energy] industry leaders say the federal government must do more to support sustainable development in Canada…Two key national programs that promote renewable energy and clean technologies are running out of cash, but officials still don’t know whether the government intends to renew their funding…

"The wind-energy industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. In Canada, while other industries suffered through the economic slowdown, the wind industry set a record in 2009 by introducing 900 megawatts in new wind-energy projects. The total capacity in Canada has risen from 322 megawatts in 2003 to 3,250 megawatts in wind power."

New Energy will allow Canada's ag sector to get in the energy game. (click thru to learn more)

"The existing Canadian government ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program offers a guaranteed production incentive for new projects over a 10-year period, but more than 90 per cent of its funding of $1.4 billion has been committed, leaving little incentives for additional projects…[while] the [comparable] U.S. program has already been extended to 2012 and offers [domestic or foreign] producers nearly three times more support in incentives…

"Meanwhile…Sustainable Development Technology Canada [established in 2001]has already partnered with companies on nearly 200 different projects to offer funding and help raise private capital for new clean-technology products…[but will need new funding to give Canadian companies the support they need] to compete with their counterparts in the U.S. and Asia…[It] recently received a $500-million grant to support development of next-generation ethanol production from waste products, but it has almost run out of funding to pursue new climate-change, clean-air, clean-water and clean-soil technologies."

Canada has great wind assets and it would be a shame if poor political leadership leaves them undeveloped. (click to enlarge)

"…[A Canadian] Natural Resources [Department] spokesperson said the government was pleased with the results of Sustainable Development Technology Canada and the ecoENERGY program…[and] has set a goal of having 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity provided by non-emitting sources by 2020, up from about 70 per cent today, but has not yet introduced a detailed plan to achieve that goal…

"About one per cent of Canada’s power comes from wind-energy sources, compared to about two per cent in the United States…[but] a recent U.S. government report…concluded that it could raise that proportion to 20 per cent at a cost of about $0.50 per month on the average household’s utility bill."