Prince Edward Island’s reputation as a leader in renewable energy research and development was highlighted at a recent international industry forum.
Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem was one of the featured speakers at the International Sustainable Energy Forum in San Francisco, California. The governments of The Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom hosted the event. Participants included renewable energy companies – including solar, wind and wave energy developers – from the three host countries and the United States, as well as venture capitalists, representatives from public utilities, policy makers and regulators, researchers and large energy users. Organizers of the International Sustainable Energy Forum sought PEI's participation in the conference because of the province's comprehensive renewable energy policy.
Minister Ballem said the forum provided an excellent opportunity to promote Prince Edward Island as the perfect place to test renewable energy technologies.
“Renewable energy is one of the fastest growing industries world wide as companies, utilities and governments look for new ways to meet the growing demand for clean energy,” the Minister said. “Prince Edward Island is the ideal laboratory for these. The province small enough to serve as a testing ground for new innovations, yet large enough to demonstrate the commercialization of new technologies.”
The forum was an opportunity for countries to share best practices in renewable energy development and establish business and research relationships. Minister Ballem spoke about renewable energy development in Canada during the opening Leadership Discussion with Rosario Marin, Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency in California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's cabinet; Maryanne Tidwell, Head of the United Kingdom’s International Energy Team; and Rene van Hell, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
The Minister also participated in a panel discussion on Sustainable Options for Energy Generation where he was asked to focus on key policies and initiatives implemented in PEI as examples of leading best practices. Other speakers on the panel were Dr. Kees van der Klein, Vice President of the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands; Professor Ian Bryden, Chair of Renewable Energy at the University of Edinburgh; and Lee Bailey, Chief Operating Officer with the US Renewables Group, LLC, an investment company that acquires, develops and operates renewable energy and clean fuel assets.
Minister Ballem said there was a lot of interest among forum participants in what’s happening with renewable energy research and development in Prince Edward Island.
PEI’s renewable energy initiatives are being promoted again this week during the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) 2006 Conference and Trade Show in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Wayne MacQuarrie, Chief Executive Officer of the PEI Energy Corporation, is providing an update on the PEI Renewable Energy Strategy and wind energy development in the province. As well, Anne Forbes, Executive Director of the Wind Energy Institute of Canada at North Cape, is doing a presentation on the new research facility. The largest annual wind energy event in Canada, the CanWEA conference attracts approximately 600 delegates from across the country.