“Clean” energy promise a dirty lie


Substation Relay Protection Training

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 12 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$699
Coupon Price:
$599
Reserve Your Seat Today
The federal government used the throne speech to promise it will switch Canadians on to clean energy by balancing the need for power with climate change.

To achieve that goal, it pledged to ensure 90% of all Canada's electricity comes from "non-emitting sources" such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal and wind by 2020.

"The key is nuclear and also other clean energy sources," Environment Minister Jim Prentice said. "Clean coal is a part of that. We need to see improvements in terms of technology there, but this is a realistic objective."

Environmentalists, however, say describing energy sources such as nuclear and coal as clean is misleading.

"The issue here is what defines clean power," said Dave Martin of Greenpeace Canada.

"Nuclear energy is not clean. It creates radioactive waste that stays deadly for a million years."

Martin also says there is no such thing as clean coal and experimental technologies — which claim to capture coal emissions — have yet to be proven or widely used.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians get 59% of their electricity from hydro generating stations, 14% from nuclear power and 26% from fossil fuels.

Martin argues that by labelling some energy clean the government could achieve its promised goal of moving to 90% from the current 73% without actually cutting emissions.

The government also reaffirmed its promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 and pledged to join a North America-wide carbon cap and trade system touted by U.S. president elect Barack Obama.

Quite controversially, the throne speech also promised to continue support for biofuels such as ethanol. The policy of subsidizing fuels made from food crops was widely criticized by international aid groups for driving up the price of food for the world's poor.

Related News

IEC reaches settlement on Palestinian electricity debt

IEC-PETL Electricity Agreement streamlines grid management, debt settlement, and bank guarantees, shifting power supply, transmission,…
View more

Transmission constraints impede incremental Quebec-to-US power deliveries

Hydro-Québec Northeast Clean Energy Transmission delivers surplus hydropower via HVDC interconnections to New York and…
View more

SDG&E Wants More Money From Customers Who Don’t Buy Much Electricity. A Lot More.

SDG&E Minimum Bill Proposal would impose a $38.40 fixed charge, discouraging rooftop solar, burdening low…
View more

Website Providing Electricity Purchase Options Offered Fewer Choices For Spanish-speakers

Texas PUC Spanish Power to Choose mandates bilingual parity in deregulated electricity markets, ensuring equal…
View more

COVID-19: Daily electricity demand dips 15% globally, says report

COVID-19 Impact on Electricity Demand, per IEA data, shows 15% global load drop from lockdowns,…
View more

National Steel Car appealing decision in legal challenge of Ontario electricity fee it calls an unconstitutional tax

Ontario Global Adjustment Appeal spotlights Ontario's electricity fee, regulatory charge vs tax debate, FIT contracts,…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Live Online & In-person Group Training

Advantages To Instructor-Led Training – Instructor-Led Course, Customized Training, Multiple Locations, Economical, CEU Credits, Course Discounts.

Request For Quotation

Whether you would prefer Live Online or In-Person instruction, our electrical training courses can be tailored to meet your company's specific requirements and delivered to your employees in one location or at various locations.