Clean Energy Canada, a Vancouver-based think tank, has released a new report on the growth of clean energy in Canada, and the results are surprising. Canada’s clean energy capacity has grown by 93 percent over the past 5 years, with direct clean energy jobs in 2013 pulling into the lead ahead of total direct oil sands jobs!
The energy revolution that is sweeping the planet is also sweeping Canada, but mostly thanks to Ontario and Quebec. Unlike our neighbours south of the border, who have moved with China into positions of global leadership in this historic energy transition, our federal government’s attitude is best described as “indifferent.”
This surprising growth in renewables is good news for jobs, for the economy, and for the environment. I recommend reading, “Tracking the Energy Revolution – Canada” (as well as their earlier “Tracking the Energy Revolution – Global”) but here are some tantalizing highlights:
· Total investment in renewables across Canada continued to climb steadily over the last 5 years, reaching $24 billion in 2013. Most of the dollars went to wind, with one new turbine going up in Canada every 10 hours, but with the fastest relative growth going to solar, spurred by a 60 percent price drop in solar-powered equipment in Canada since 2009.
· According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, Canada is seen as the top market for American renewable energy and energy efficiency exports. Under Barack Obama, the U.S. has increased solar generation more than tenfold and tripled wind power. “The world’s second-largest carbon polluter is now also the world’s second-biggest clean energy producer – trailing only China, the world leader in both categories,” says Clean Energy.
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