Boomer vs. Millennial in a battle of words on energy change Overheard this recently as a human fly on the wall... Energy “transition” and “transformation” were being used as sharp blades in a verbal fencing duel between a Baby Boomer and a Millennial. At a guess, 25 years separated them. The “match” occurred over Chinese…
The language we use to define “energy transition,” for example, exposes our different value systems Had an intriguing chat the other day with an industry colleague. He’s personable, passionate, and persuasive. He has three degrees, including a doctorate. He is one of our sector’s most brilliant technical minds. He has published extensively in the right…
By throttling questions she doesn't like, Smith is forgetting that the media plays a critical role in ensuring democracy works It’s called “discursive closure”. And it’s hard at work on Alberta’s hustings specifically and the provincial landscape more generally. Discourses are the way we talk about things. Things like politics and elections and how the…
How evangelical and partisan discourse can blind stakeholders to solutions that would resolve a broad range of societal ills It has been over 20 years since Bjorn Lomborg penned The Skeptical Environmentalist. The Danish scholar originally wanted to call the book The Real State of the World, but his publisher had other thoughts in terms…
Any plan of any substance needs to be a plan in which Albertans see a reflection of themselves and the energy future they want Ever hear an energy cricket chirp? Not likely, because “hearing crickets” is a semantical stand-in for deafening silence. And it’s silence of that magnitude which may be puzzling Albertans about what…
Cleaning up inactive assets continues to hang over the energy sector like a dark cloud Bad policy happens to good people. Like Albertans. But bad policy, paradoxically, can often start in a good place. Here’s an example. Alberta’s UCP government recently floated a trial balloon entitled the Liability Management Incentive Program (LMIP). In a nutshell,…
Premier Smith’s retread energy panel seemingly out to please only one particular constituency It’s a pretty tall order, one that will define much in terms of how Albertans see themselves – and how the rest of Canada sees Alberta. After all, who knows what energy life will be like in, say, 2033? 2039? 2044? How…
Premier Smith should create a parallel panel of energy players from the constituencies neglected in the first kick at the cat Here’s an idea, Ms. Premier. But first, some reflection. You’re all about competitiveness – and driving to where Alberta needs to be as a competitive energy jurisdiction. As an avowed libertarian, you have a…
Perry Kinkaide is joined by Bill Whitelaw, Managing Director, Strategy & Sustainability at geoLOGIC Systems Ltd. & JWN Energy. The interview was triggered by Ottawa’s announced “Just transition,” Bill’s Troy Media commentary If we don’t get energy transition right, we’re screwed, and Alberta’s reaction concerning the implications on jobs in the energy sector. Troy Media…
Where are the wind players, the solar players, the geothermal players, the First Nation communities, the young professionals? So close. Yet so far away. That’s the paradox in Alberta premier Danielle Smith’s latest advisory pronouncement, via which five oilpatch veterans are charged with a weighty task: mapping Alberta’s energy future. Whew. That’s a big ask,…
Boomer vs. Millennial in a battle of words on energy change Overheard this recently as a human fly on the wall... Energy “transition” and “transformation” were being used as sharp blades in a verbal fencing duel between a Baby Boomer and a Millennial. At a guess, 25 years separated them. The “match” occurred over Chinese…
The language we use to define “energy transition,” for example, exposes our different value systems Had an intriguing chat the other day with an industry colleague. He’s personable, passionate, and persuasive. He has three degrees, including a doctorate. He is one of our sector’s most brilliant technical minds. He has published extensively in the right…
By throttling questions she doesn't like, Smith is forgetting that the media plays a critical role in ensuring democracy works It’s called “discursive closure”. And it’s hard at work on Alberta’s hustings specifically and the provincial landscape more generally. Discourses are the way we talk about things. Things like politics and elections and how the…
How evangelical and partisan discourse can blind stakeholders to solutions that would resolve a broad range of societal ills It has been over 20 years since Bjorn Lomborg penned The Skeptical Environmentalist. The Danish scholar originally wanted to call the book The Real State of the World, but his publisher had other thoughts in terms…
Cleaning up inactive assets continues to hang over the energy sector like a dark cloud Bad policy happens to good people. Like Albertans. But bad policy, paradoxically, can often start in a good place. Here’s an example. Alberta’s UCP government recently floated a trial balloon entitled the Liability Management Incentive Program (LMIP). In a nutshell,…
Premier Smith’s retread energy panel seemingly out to please only one particular constituency It’s a pretty tall order, one that will define much in terms of how Albertans see themselves – and how the rest of Canada sees Alberta. After all, who knows what energy life will be like in, say, 2033? 2039? 2044? How…
Premier Smith should create a parallel panel of energy players from the constituencies neglected in the first kick at the cat Here’s an idea, Ms. Premier. But first, some reflection. You’re all about competitiveness – and driving to where Alberta needs to be as a competitive energy jurisdiction. As an avowed libertarian, you have a…
Perry Kinkaide is joined by Bill Whitelaw, Managing Director, Strategy & Sustainability at geoLOGIC Systems Ltd. & JWN Energy. The interview was triggered by Ottawa’s announced “Just transition,” Bill’s Troy Media commentary If we don’t get energy transition right, we’re screwed, and Alberta’s reaction concerning the implications on jobs in the energy sector. Troy Media…
Where are the wind players, the solar players, the geothermal players, the First Nation communities, the young professionals? So close. Yet so far away. That’s the paradox in Alberta premier Danielle Smith’s latest advisory pronouncement, via which five oilpatch veterans are charged with a weighty task: mapping Alberta’s energy future. Whew. That’s a big ask,…