(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
It is estimated that by the year 2100, the world population will
exceed 12 billion people 
(www.netcomuk.co.uk/~asayigh/wren.html).
If the current trends in technological progress and innovation continue,
the demand for energy could increase by five times its current rate. It
is thus becoming increasingly clear that the current patterns of energy
use are unsustainable and that these patterns must change.
Most of the energy that we use, particularly in industrialised
countries, is produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas 
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
Unfortunately, not only do these fossil fuels pollute the air that we breathe
and contribute large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, but their
supply is not renewable. There are, however, energy sources that are both
clean and renewable. Moreover, many of the technologies necessary to harness
these energies are fully developed. Yet only one-fifth of the worldís commercial
energy supply comes these sources. One reason for this may be that the
fossil fuel industry is highly profitable, annually turning over US$1 trillion
and accounting for one-fifth of global investment and between 10 and 15%
of gross domestic product around the world
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
Faced with these facts, it becomes more obvious why many people are unwilling
to switch to renewable technologies. The fossil fuel industry is the mainstay
of the economy in many regions, including the province of Alberta, and
many politicians and industry employees fear that cuts to fossil fuel industry
will result in economic collapse.
The purpose of this report is to provide a general
overview of the electricity industry, the environmental problems associated
with the use of conventional fossil fuels, and the alternative technologies
that are available. It is written in order to provide people who have little
background in alternative energy sources with a general understanding of
the industry, of the technologies involved, and of some of the barriers
that exist against the adoption of renewable energy resources in Alberta
and Canada.
(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have all slowly developed
from long-dead organic and animal matter 
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/simply.html).
The advantages of using fossil fuels are that they are relatively
cheap sources of energy and the technology involved is fully developed.
However, all fossil fuels contribute to the global warming process through
the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and each fossil
fuel has health and environmental impacts of its own
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/simply.html).
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/simply.html).
(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
This shift is occurring for a number of reasons, including the low cost
of natural gas, its ability to be shipped in liquid form, and its environmental
attractiveness. Because it has the lowest specific CO2 emissions
of all the fossil fuels, it can be used more efficiently than coal and
oil. However, as attractive as this may seem there are some problems. The
increase in natural gas consumption in much of the industrialised world
is the main source of this regionís rising CO2 emissions. Of
all the fossil fuels, it is expected that natural gas use will increase
most rapidly over the next two decades 
(www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo96/world.html).
By 2015, natural gas consumption for the production of energy is expected
to be similar to that of coal.
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/atom.html).
Although nuclear energy is often touted as being a "clean" energy source,
it results in nuclear waste. These materials are highly radioactive and
no safe method of disposal has been discovered. Additionally, nuclear power
stations only have a lifetime of about 20 years, after which they must
be decommissioned, a process that is extremely expensive.
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/atom.html).
Today, lives continue to be affected. "As many as 70 per cent of
Ukrainian children are born with birth defects and of the 30 percent born
healthy, only 20 per cent are still healthy." This meltdown, as well as
the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island, has largely destroyed public faith
in the nuclear industry and many people believe that another disaster could
soon occur.
On the positive side, hydro has several environmental
benefits. No CO2 is produced and there is little other effect
on the atmosphere. Noise pollution is quite small and there is little involved
that will explode, catch on fire, or emit dangerous chemicals (Boyle, 1996,
p.214).
(www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo96/hilites.html).
Non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries
in Asia are predicted to have the largest increases in energy use. It is
expected that India and China will lead the way in the demand for energy
increases, resulting in a growth of 150% between 1993 and 2015. To put
this figure into perspective, the rise in energy demand in OECD countries
is projected to be only about 32%.
(www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo96/world.html).
Renewable energy offers a solution to many of the
environmental and social problems that arise from the use of fossil and
nuclear fuels. Technically, it appears to be possible to replace all fossil
and nuclear fuels with renewables. This, however, would result in a substantial
increase in the price of energy. The strong counter-argument to this point
is that conventional fuels are currently underpriced because their prices
do not cover the environmental damage that they cause (Boyle, 1996, p.32-33).
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
There are a number of gases in the earthís atmosphere that work like a
greenhouse to trap heat. They allow solar radiation to pass through to
the earth while they trap some of the radiation that leaves the earth.
Why should we worry then? The problem arises when too many gases being
pumped into the atmosphere unbalance the natural greenhouse effect, which
is vital to our survival on this planet.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), composed of leading scientists from around the world, has reached several conclusions about global warming:
(www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/globenmy.tmpl).
The Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean could disappear entirely
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/facts.html)
and hundreds of cultures are under threat of disappearing as well in a
number of Pacific islands
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
Serious levels of coral bleaching are also predicted, which would be caused
by rising sea temperatures.
(www.lungusa.org/learn/environment/envairpoll.html).
It can cause discomfort and limit peopleís activities, as well as increase
the reliance on medications and even reduce lifespans. Most health-related
problems resulting from pollution occur in the lungs because they are the
organs that interface with the air 
(www.tec.org/greenbeat/may96/health.html).
The pollutants that are most responsible for health effects are carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and volatile organic compounds
(Wind Energy Series: The Benefits of Wind Energy, Jan. 1997, no.1, p.5).
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
However, by 1996, it became apparent that many countries would not meet
their commitments and only three of the worldís top ten greenhouse emitters
would meet their targets. Canadaís CO2 emissions actually increased
by more than 10 percent over 1990 levels.
Negotiators from more than 150 countries met in Kyoto, Japan from December 1 to 10, 1997. The countries met in attempt to reach a legally binding treaty to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. During most of the conference, it looked as though delegates might fail to reach an agreement. However, in the end, the industrialised countries of the world agreed to a 5.2% reduction from 1990 levels. This target is to be reached no later than 2012. The treaty imposed differentiated targets on nations. Canada and Japan will have to decrease emissions by 6%, the United States by 7%, and the Europeans by 8%. Some countries will be allowed to increase their emissions. The six gases that were included for reduction in the treaty were carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluorides.
The treaty also includes a plan for emissions trading
that would allow countries that are having a difficult time reducing emissions
to buy "credits" from countries that go beyond their targets. It also contains
a "clean development mechanism" through which countries of the North will
receive credits for investing in technologies that are energy efficient
in the 'Third World.' The rules involved will be set next year in Buenos
Aires. Unfortunately, the representatives from ëdevelopedí countries failed
to convince countries like China and India to limit their emissions voluntarily.
Many people are worried that this will lead companies to move their operations
from industrialised countries to developing countries, where there are
no limits on emissions.
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/leapfrogging.html).
These include solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, hydroelectricity
(especially small-scale hydro - what is referred to as "run-of-the-river"
hydro), biomass energy, energy from wastes, tidal power, and geothermal
energy. All of these energy sources have environmental benefits over the
use of fossil fuels. In Alberta, the most feasible alternative sources
are wind energy, solar energy, biomass, small-scale hydro, and fuel cells.
The other renewables will not be dealt with in detail.
There are several benefits associated with using renewable energy supplies over conventional sources. Renewables decrease CO2 emissions and cut the air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, that cause acid rain and health problems. They also decrease a countryís reliance on imported fuel and help to diversify the energy supply (Boyle, 1996, p.419). When the emissions of conventional fuels are compared with those of renewable resources, it becomes apparent that renewables have a much-reduced impact of the environment. Although most renewable energy sources minimise environmental, there may be some local environmental impact. However, almost none of the renewables releases pollutants during operation and if pollutants are released, they are generally in very small quantities (Boyle, 1996, p.420).
It is as imperative to reduce our consumption of energy
as it is to use renewable energy. Specific energy consumption in existing
energy-using installations can generally be reduced by about 20-50% simply
by using the most efficient technologies available
(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
This figure jumps significantly to 50-90% in the case of new installations.
And usually, aside from reducing energy consumption, these efficiency improvements
are cheaper than increasing the supply of energy.
One major area of concern surrounds the effects of wind energy development on wildlife and wilderness areas (Wind Energy Series, Jan. 1997, No.2. p.3). The main wildlife affected is birds, whose migratory paths often cross wind plants. The birds occasionally fly into the rotor blades and are injured or killed. It would be impossible to find an area where there are no birds present. "The ideal is for no birds to be killed, but this will not be practical in many cases. A more scientifically meaningful standard for measuring the severity of impact might be whether the deaths will result in a significant decrease in the total mortality of the affected species" (Wind Energy Series, Jan. 1997, No.2. p.4) Additionally, during the construction of the wind power plant, habitats might be destroyed or disrupted by activities such as road construction and tree clearing. Thus, some ecologically sensitive areas should be considered off-limits to wind power projects. In other cases, impacts on habitats could be lessened or offset by such activities as tree planting or creating habitats for species displaced by wind projects. The measures, if needed, will depend on each particular case and should be researched carefully. When developing wind power plants in areas vulnerable to erosion, planners and designers will also need to pay close attention to soil conservation and control measures early in the design stage of the project, thus avoiding any serious disasters (Wind Energy Series, Jan. 1997, No.2. p.5).
By planning and researching carefully and consulting
frequently with the affected communities, wind plant developers can perceive
and address the most critical problems before considerable investments
are made into new wind projects (Wind Energy Series, Jan. 1997, No.2. p.1).
(www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/solarage.tmpl).
Evaporation from the sea causes rain to fall on the land, resulting in
the global hydropower resource. The remaining fifth of the sunís energy
falls on the land and is still about 2,000 times greater than total world
energy demand. The three main technologies that have been developed to
capture this energy are Passive Solar, Solar Thermal, and Photovoltaic
modules.
Passive Solar refers to the way in which buildings
are designed consciously to heat space
(www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/solarage.tmpl).
This method can provide up to 70% of the buildingís energy requirements
simply by using design and solar orientation. By installing large glass
windows on south-facing surfaces, one gains large amounts of free energy.
To avoid excessive heat, either overhanging balconies are installed or
trees are planted nearby. (The benefit of trees is that they reduce sunlight
in the summer but in the winter, when the leaves have fallen and the sun
is lower, they allow the light to come in.)
Solar thermal refers to the use of solar energy to
heat water
(www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/solarage.tmpl).
A solar water heater is simply water pipes that are painted black
to improve heat absorption. The pipes are small in diameter, ensuring that
there is a large surface area of water exposed to the sun. Then, the pipes
are placed in a small ëgreenhouse,í which acts to keep them insulated.
In the United Kingdom, solar water heating is competing well with the more
conventional energy sources. In Canada, the solar thermal technology is
relatively mature and produces products that are well developed and compare
favourably with the technology produced by companies overseas (The Canadian
Renewable Energy Guide, 1995, p.153). However, in Canada the market for
solar thermal energy is lacking. There is a belief among many Canadians
that solar systems are neither reliable nor efficient. Many also believe
that the country does not get enough sunshine. Although all of these beliefs
are false, it would appear that many Canadians would rather continue to
use the fossil fuels to which they have become accustomed over renewables
such as solar energy.
The ëPhotovoltaic Effectí refers to the generation
of electricity from sunlight in a solid-state device
(www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/solarage.tmpl).
The most common photovoltaic (PV) cell is made mostly from silicon, the
earthís second most abundant element (Boyle, 1996, p.92). PV generators
operate with no moving parts, noise, or pollution. This makes them a very
appropriate renewable energy source for urban areas. Over the past few
years, there has been rapid progress in the development of PV cells, increasing
their efficiency while decreasing their cost and weight. Worldwide sales
of PV modules have increased dramatically over the past few years, from
35 peak megawatts/year (35 MWp/year) in 1988, to 83 MWp/year in 1995
(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
Nevertheless, photovoltaics are not entirely risk-free.
Normally, they give off no pollutants or radioactive substances. However,
certain modules do include small quantities of toxic substances and should
an array catch on fire, small amounts of chemicals may be released into
the environment (Boyle, 1996, p.129). Additionally, as with all electrical
equipment, there are some risks of electric shock. Finally, PV arrays may
be considered by some to be visually intrusive, as rooftop arrays are clearly
visible to neighbours. In Table 4, a summary of both the benefits and drawbacks
of solar energy is provided.
Biomass fuels - agricultural residues or crops grown
specifically for energy production - replace the conventional fossil fuels
in powering electric generators 
(www.eren.doe.gov/biopower).
In addition to electricity, biomass can also be used to produce "liquid
fuels, gaseous fuels, and a variety of useful chemicals, including those
currently manufactured from petroleum." Biomass is an important store of
energy for the earth because it is being continually replenished
(www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/5088-3-1.html).
Biomass power has numerous environmental benefits.
Because biomass fuels produce practically no sulphur emissions, they are
not responsible for the production of acid rain
(www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/envion.html).
Secondly, although CO2 is a by-product of biomass combustion,
the same amount of CO2 is absorbed during the growth period
of the biomass, and therefore, no net carbon dioxide is produced, as long
as it is cultivated and harvested in a sustainable and repeated cycle.
Thirdly, because fewer materials are sent to the landfills, the lives of
the current landfills are prolonged. Fourthly, the combustion of biomass
produces less ash than that of coal, therefore reducing the costs of ash
disposal and landfill space requirements. Biomass ash can additionally
be used to improve the soil on farm land. Finally, crops of biomass need
less fertiliser and herbicides and they provide much more vegetative cover,
thus protecting it against soil erosion and watershed quality deterioration.
Biomass crops also result in enhanced wildlife cover.
Many of the advanced ëclean coalí technologies can
be readily adapted for biomass (Boyle, 1996, p.169). Coal produces the
most carbon dioxide per unit of energy delivered; therefore the most CO2
would be displaced through the replacement of coal with biomass. Biofuels
are also cleaner than coal in that they contain basically no sulphur. When
biofuels are burned, the levels of nitrogen oxides produced can be greatly
reduced through the use of "modified combustion systems and/or catalysts
to clean up exhaust gases" (Boyle, 1996, p.169-170).
In addition to their environmental benefits, biomass
has economic benefits. In the United States, biomass currently supports
approximately 66,000 jobs, mostly in rural areas
(www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/economic.html).
By the year 2010, it is predicted that over 13,000 megawatts of
biomass power could be installed. This would help to greatly revitalise
rural economies by supporting over 170,000 jobs. Officials envision that
agricultural land that is currently underutilised could grow biomass energy
crops
(www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/economic.html).
Thus, crops planted specifically for biomass energy would complement the
existing crops of farmers instead of competing with them.
Today, biomass is calculated at about 14% of the
worldís primary energy consumption (Boyle, 1996, p.139). This figure jumps
to 35% when only developing countries are considered and falls to a low
of 3% when only industrialised countries are assessed. In Canada, approximately
7% of energy is provided by biomass (The Canadian Renewable Energy Guide,
1995, p.147). Currently, most of our biomass energy comes from wood residues
from the forest industries or as wood cut into firewood.
Large-scale biomass development does pose a number
of challenges to biodiversity, land availability, water resources, and
local pollution, all of which need to be carefully addressed when considering
biomass as an energy source
(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
There is continuing research regarding the impact of energy cropping, particularly
with respect to decreasing the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides,
and water (Boyle, 1996, p.171). The issue of ëfuel versus foodí is very
complex and has been heavily debated. In order to gain maximum benefit
from biomass, it is important to encourage agricultural processes which
optimise land-use in order to meet both needs. "An optimised biomass energy
system will...tend to be low-input, minimising the use of energy-rich or
fossil fuel-derived resources such as fertiliser or tractor fuel, and maximising
recycling and energy recovery throughout the process" (Boyle, p.171).
Prior to 1973, Denmark was heavily dependent on
imported oil and as a result, reacted strongly to the 1973 oil shock. It
was then that the government decided to put more emphasis on "energy conservation
and fuel substitution (from oil to natural gas and biomass)í in order to
reduce their dependence on imports" 
(www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EGdirect/EGre0028.htm).
More efficient district heating systems were installed and an energy tax
was put in place to keep the prices of oil and coal high. The earnings
from this tax were invested in energy-saving equipment as well as research
into biomass systems.
Currently, biomass energy represents 6% of Denmarkís
total energy consumption, a number that also translates into about 75%
of Danish renewable energy output
(www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EGdirect/EGre0028.htm).
As an agricultural country, Denmark produces large amounts of straw and
animal wastes that can be used as sources of energy. "Straw presses have
been developed that efficiently process the straw into bales of standard
sizes, which are used in 8,000 on-farm heating systems...and, increasingly,
purchased by electric utilities for power generation...and/or district
heating." With the signing of new contracts, electricity generation from
straw is positioned to develop further.
Energy is also increasingly being derived from municipal
solid waste
(www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EGdirect/EGre0028.htm).
Danish households are required to separate organic and non-organic waste.
The organic waste is then used in ëbiogas digester plantsí to generate
heat and electricity. By year 2000, the country plans to use all combustible
wastes for energy purposes, mostly in cogeneration facilities.
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/facts.html).
Unlike large hydroelectric dam projects, which transform ecosystems, resulting
in environmental destruction, run-of-river systems simply tap into the
energy flow of running water.
(www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html).
Fuel cells are able to offer "high thermodynamic efficiency, quiet operation,
zero or near-zero pollutant emissions and low maintenance requirements."
There are several different types of fuel cells and they are used for completely
different applications. Some are suitable for use in automobiles while
others are more useful in the development of stationary, decentralised
electricity generation.
(www.humboldt.edu/~serc/general.html).
This is because rather than using natural gas as a fuel, they use a solar
hydrogen system. In this case, PV cells are used to convert sunlight into
electricity. This energy splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, therefore
emitting no CO2 or other greenhouse gases when the hydrogen
is produced.
(www.humboldt.edu/~serc/h2fuel.html).
This only occurs when hydrogen is produced from water and then oxidised
back into water. If fuels such as natural gas are used, as in the Ballard
case, some pollution in the form of CO2 is produced. Secondly,
hydrogen systems are, in many cases, safer than the fossil fuel systems
they replace. Thirdly, fuel cells are more efficient in their conversion
of energy into electricity than any other power system. They can convert
with up to 80% efficiency. Additionally, fuel cells are nearly silent,
if they are operating normally and they last significantly longer than
the machines they replace. Finally, fuel cells can be any size, from small
enough to fit in a golf cart, to large enough to power an entire community
and are therefore very versatile.
Most of the money being spent on research and development
in the energy industry goes towards further development of fossil fuels
and nuclear energy, instead of towards clean and renewable technologies
(www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/facts.html).
Because the price of oil has remained quite low for over a decade, it is
very difficult for environmental pressures to compete with economic pressures.
"New products and procedures start off at a disadvantage because at first
they lack the infrastructure, supply industries, and consumer expectation
to break into existing markets" (Boyle, 1996, p.4). It has been estimated
that if renewable energy had adequate research, development, and financing,
and if it did not have to compete with subsidised fossil fuels, "it could
supply three-fifths of the worldís electricity and two-fifths of the global
market for direct fuel use by 2050"
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
Government policies represent a strong influence
upon energy use. Many governments, including Canadaís, subsidise energy
exploration and production, keep the prices of gasoline low, and promote
urban sprawl, all of which encourage industry and consumers to increase
production and consumption of energy. "Oil-producing countries are much
more likely to encourage high production and consumption"
(www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm).
In Canada, another major market barrier facing the
renewable energy industry is that the public believes that the fossil fuel
supply is inexpensive and secure while they see renewable resources as
expensive and neither efficient nor reliable (The Canadian Renewable Energy
Guide, p.154).
Most renewable energy sources are only partly predictable,
meaning that no one can be absolutely sure that they will be available
when needed. This comes to be seen as a problem in ëindustrialisedí countries
where power is almost always available to us when we turn on the switch
(Boyle, p.403). Biofuels are the only renewable resource that is entirely
predictable because most biofuels are easily stored and can be used on
demand almost as easily as fossil fuels.
Moreover, the price of the electricity produced
from fossil fuels in Alberta is significantly lower than that produced
from renewables. While the cost of producing electricity from renewables
ranges from 5 to 14 cents per kilowatt hour, electricity can be generated
from fossil fuels at a price of 2.2 to 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
With the onset of deregulation in Alberta "winners
and losers in the electric supply industry will be distinguished by their
ability or inability, respectively, to develop sophisticated relationships
with even the smallest customers. Technology will play a key role in developing
these relationships by providing new products and services that will bring
in revenue and develop brand identity" (Wind Energy Series, Jan. 1997,
No.9, p.1). The option to buy electricity generated from renewable energy
sources could potentially have a very significant role to play in the new
competitive electricity marketplace.
November 24, 1997, two new wind turbines began operating
in southern Alberta. Both are 600 kW turbines, one located near Hill Springs
and the other near Pincher Creek. Both are owned by Vision
Quest WindElectric and will be used to supply green power to federal
buildings in Alberta as well as some commercial and residential customers.
Enmaxís current supply of green power also comes
from a biomass plant in northern Alberta installed by Whitecourt Power
Limited Partnership. Wood waste from the forestry industry is trucked in
from factories and put through the biomass facility to produce electricity.
In 1995, Environment
Canada set up the Environmental
Choice Program (ECP). The day-to-day operations of this program are
run by TerraChoice Environmental Services
Inc., while the program itself is owned by Environment Canada. The
ECP is a program through which labels are assigned to identify products
and services that are less harmful to the environment. Those which meet
the strict guidelines set by the EPC can apply to be certified and to incorporate
the EcoLogoM, Environment Canadaís official mark of environmental
leadership, into their advertising and promotional campaigns. To obtain
the EcoLogoM, a product or service "must be made or offered
in a way that improves energy efficiency, reduces hazardous waste by-products,
uses recycled materials, or is reusable. Certified products must also continue
to meet applicable safety and performance standards" (The EcoBuyer Catalogue,
Vol.1, No.1, p.1). TerraChoice
publishes the EcoBuyer Catalogue in order to provide a reference guide
to all of the Products and Services that are EcoLogoM certified.
Both Vision
Quest WindElectric and Whitecourt Power Limited Partnership have been
certified with the EcoLogoM. The biomass plant was in fact pre-existing
but they made substantial additions in order to obtain their certification
as an EcoLogoM source. Enmax signed an agreement with TerraChoice
on January 1, 1998, which allowed the corporation to become EcoLogoM
certified as well. It is also the first utility in the EcoBuyer Catalogue.
Enmax gained its certification by agreeing to buy and sell green energy
only from EcoLogoM certified sources.
The total existing green-certified resources in Alberta
consist of 10.75 GWh of biomass and 3.6 GWh of wind. 8.6 GWh of biomass
and 3.4 GWh of wind have been committed to the federal government. The
remaining 2.35 GWh will be available for marketing to commercial and residential
customers. In theory, customers can purchase the rest of this electricity,
simply by paying a premium of 5 to 10 percent extra on top of their regular
bill. The problem involved is that because electricity is produced from
a whole range of power sources and is put into a grid of transmission and
distribution wires for delivery to final customers, the origin of the power
cannot be determined. Therefore, even if a customer is paying a premium
for ëgreen power,í technically this power is not being transmitted to their
house and they continue to receive power from all the different sources
of generation in Alberta. The customer would be paying the premium more
for the principle, believing that their actions and decisions will positively
impact the environment. By paying the premium, the customer is ensuring
that a certain amount of CO2 is being displaced by renewable
energies.
Many consumers are willing to pay higher prices for products that are more environmentally friendly. Therefore, they should have the option to buy these products. In terms of electricity, this means that customers interested in "green energy" would pay a higher rate than those using electricity generated from fossil fuel in order to cover the higher cost of using renewables to generate electricity.
Finally, companies that are involved in the exploration, extraction,
development, and transportation of fossil fuels should become increasingly
involved in the research and development of renewable energy technologies.
As Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki said during the Kyoto talks,
"Weíre producing twice as much carbon dioxide as the planet can take. We
are acting as if we can nickel and dime the atmosphere into human economic
agendas. Thereís no sense of urgency" (The Calgary Herald, December 9,
1997 - "USA faces pressure on greenhouse gas cuts.")
BibliographyThe EcoBuyer Catalogue, Volume 1, Number 1, Winter/Spring Issue, 1997. (Published by TerraChoice Environmental Services Inc.)
Preliminary Prospectus. No.0515. Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc., October 31, 1997.
Boyle, Godfrey(ed). Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1996.
Heggelund, Merete. Emissions-Permit Trading: A Policy Tool to Reduce Atmospheric Concentration of Greenhouse Gases. Canadian Energy Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, 1991.
Wind Energy Series: The Benefits of Wind Energy. National Wind Coordinating Committee, January 1997, No.1.
Wind Energy Series: Wind Energy Environmental Issues. National Wind Coordinating Committee, January 1997, No.2.
Wind Energy Series: Wind Energy Resources. National Wind Coordinating Committee, January 1997, No.4.
Wind Energy Series: The Effect of Wind Energy Development on State and Local Economies. National Wind Coordinating Committee, January 1997, No.5.
Wind Energy Series: Incorporating Wind into Resource Portfolios. National Wind Coordinating Committee, January 1997, No.8.
Wind Energy Series: Wind Energy Transmission and Utility Integration. National Wind Coordinating Committee, January 1997, No.9.
Annual Report, 1996. Ballard Power Systems Inc.
Document produced by Ballard Generation Systems.
The Vancouver Sun, December 18, 1996. D2.
The Vancouver Sun, August 26, 1997.
Ballard News Release, October 7, 1997.
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The
American Lung Association http://www.lungusa.org/learn/environment/envairpoll.html
The Bristish Wind Association http://www.bwea.com/fs2econ.htm
The Centre For Alternative Technology http://www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/globenmy.tmpl
The Centre For Alternative Technology http://www2.cat.org.uk/cat/information/solarage.tmpl
Consumers International http://www.consumersinternational.org/rightsday97/chapter4/tackling.htm
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) - U.S. Department
of Energy http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) - U.S. Department
of Energy http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/5088-3-1.html
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) - U.S. Department
of Energy http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/envion.html
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) - U.S. Department
of Energy http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/economic.html
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Energy Fact Sheet (Originally published by the Energy Educators of Ontario, 1993 http://www.iclei.org/efacts/petro.htm
Energy Information Administration/International Energy Outlook 1996 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo96/hilites.html
Energy Information Administration/International Energy Outlook 1996 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo96/world.html
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EGdirect/EGre0028.htm
GreenBeat! Profiles and Perspectives In Environmental Endeavors (produced
by the Texas Environmental Center and funded by AT&T http://www.tec.org/greenbeat/may96/health.html
New Internationalist, Issue 284, 1996 http://www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/simply.html
New Internationalist, Issue 284, 1996 http://www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/atom.html
New Internationalist, Issue 284, 1996 http://www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/facts.html
New Internationalist, Issue 284, 1996 http://www.oneworld.org/ni/issue284/leapfrogging.html
Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) - Humboldt State University in Arcata,
California http://www.humboldt.edu/~serc/general.html
Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) - Humboldt State University in Arcata,
California http://www.humboldt.edu/~serc/h2fuel.html
United Nations Development Programme. Energy After Rio: Prospects and
Challenges
http://www.undp.org:81/seed/energy/exec_en.html
Vision Quest Windelectric http://www.greenenergy.com/Disclosure.html
World Renewable Energy Network (WREN) http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~asayigh/wren.html