Alberta Green Energy Alliance

The Alberta Green Energy Alliance represents diverse interests to advocate for policies that support low-impact renewable energy in Alberta.

A vision of green energy

Installing a solar thermal panel

The Alberta Green Energy Alliance envisions Alberta as a leader in low-impact renewable energy that does not depend on coal for its electricity supply. Among the many motivations behind this vision are environmental protection, economic revitalization - particularly in rural areas, and community resilience. We believe that broad policy change is the best way to enable greater uptake of low-impact renewable facilities.

The Alberta Green Energy Alliance is an advocate for policy that increases the proportion of electricity derived from green energy in Alberta.

How do we define "green energy"?

"Green energy" refers to electricity and heat that is derived from renewable sources that minimize harm to the environment and benefit communities. Typically wind, solar PV, solar thermal, biomass and biogas are included. Natural gas-fired cogeneration (generating heat and power concurrently), while not technically renewable, can significantly reduce the environmental impact of Alberta's electricity system. Energy efficiency is also a major component of green energy - the greenest "source" of energy is reducing demand.

Our activities

Green Energy Alliance Red Deer Meeting

We first met in Red Deer on September 23 & 24, 2010. A synopsis of this meeting is available here. We met again in Edmonton on December 6, 2010, for which you can find the synopsis here. Notes and other documents for both meetings are available upon request by contacting us.

If you would like to join join the Alliance and its activities, please get in touch via Alberta Acts' contact us page.

Who We Are

The Alberta Green Energy Alliance comprises many diverse interests and interest groups. Farmers, small businesses, co-operatives, non-profits, rural electrification associations, aboriginal groups, agricultural societies, post-secondary institutions and others are all represented.

Sedmek Inc. and Skyfire Energy - David Kelly

David Kelly, the president of Sedmek Inc, and partner at Skyfire Energy has been in the solar industry since 2001. He has been a guest lecturer at Mount Royal College's sustainable design program and the University of Calgary's Renewable Energy programs. His credentials include a engineering degree from the University of Waterloo, professional accreditation through APEGGA, CANSIA member and solar thermal installation instructor.

David was just recently on the CANSIA Board for two terms. Married and a father of two, his home is partially powered by 2kW of grid-tied solar power and it uses solar thermal water heating. Sedmek has installed hundreds of solar thermal, photovoltaic and wind energy systems throughout Alberta, BC and NWT. Sedmek is no longer installing and is developing a dealer network throughout Western Canada and is providing training for new and existing installers.

Citizens Advocating the Use of Sustainable Energy (CAUSE) - Roger Gagne

Roger Gagne has, for three years, been a member of CAUSE (Citizens Advocating Use of Sustainable Energy), a Calgary-based grassroots citizen's group opposing nuclear power in Alberta, promoting instead the options of efficiency and renewable power within a clean and robust decentralized electricity grid. Roger was the driving force behind CAUSE's sponsorship of the September visit to Calgary by energy expert Hunter Lovins. Eager to participate in revolutionizing the way we produce and use energy in Alberta.

Spent eight years with the Calgary Rainforest Action Group (CRAG) in the 1990s, and two years representing CRAG on the Board of the Alberta Ecotrust.

Roger L. Gagne | CAUSE Treasurer | rogernow(at)gmail.com

Alberta Urban Municipalities Association - Brian Jackowich and Amylee Milke

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) is a non-profit association of the cities, towns, villages, summer villages and specialized municipalities within Alberta. Governed by a Board of Director from Elected Officials, the AUMA acts as advocate to provincial and federal governments on a wide variety of areas affecting urban municipalities. Within AUMA's permanent advocacy committees, the primary one dealing with energy is theSustainability and Environment Committee. Within the AUMA's business division is a wholly-owned subsidiary called Alberta Member Services Corporation (AMSC). The AMSC operates an Energy Services Program, acting as an energy aggregator delivering for natural gas and electricity to urban municipalities and municipally related organizations. Both the AUMA and AMSC are very committed to strengthening the sustainability of Alberta's municipalities and see the environment and energy as being essential to this goal.

Brian Jackowich | Senior Director, Energy Services and New Business | bjackowich(at)auma.ca

Amylee Milke | Senior Project Coordinator | amilke(at)auma.ca

Antoine Palmer

Antoine Palmer is Edmonton's one and only monk-turned-business consultant, with an extensive background in social enterprise, community development, communication and mediation, project management, and real estate investment. His firm, Konscious Corp. is a hub for champions of sustainability and social enterprise in Edmonton. Konscious facilitates collaboration among community leaders and provides a range of strategic consulting services. Antoine is married with three children and volunteers with several community organizations.

Lakeland College - Mel Mathison

Mel Mathison is the Dean of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and Applied Research at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta. Lakeland College currently has an on-line Certificate program in Renewable Energy and Conservation with a Diploma under development, that Mel has coordinated during deveopment. Mel is also involved with applied research in renewable energy, with Lakeland having recently been awarded a $2.3 million NSERC grant to research multiple system control and integration efficiency, and thermal heat storage potential. Currently development includes an off-grid energy cabin for research purposes with solar PV, solar thermal heating and storage, and a small wind turbine. A new Lakeland Centre for Sustainable Innovation is currently being retrofitted for the expanded research in renewable energy, and more systems will be installed at this new location. Mel is very interested in education and partnerships or opportunities for applied research in the area of renewable energy and conservation.

Sierra Club Prairie Chapter - Chelsea Flook

Sierra Club Prairie seeks to develop a diverse, well-trained grassroots network working to protect the integrity of our local and global ecosystems. We undertake solutions-oriented advocacy work at the municipal, provincial, and federal level to create policies and incentives to shift to cleaner, healthier, and more just ways of creating a living. We have and continue to campaign on a variety of issues that directly relate to green energy, including pushing for a nuclear-free Alberta and Saskatchewan, a Tar Sands time out, watershed protections throughout the prairie region and the creation of good, sustainable, green jobs that move beyond the boom-bust cycles of oil. We offer a diverse range of talents through our volunteers and staff focused on but not limited to, educational workshops and advocacy skills trainings and connections to a growing network of local activists throughout the prairies. We are also committed to consensus based decision-making and upholding respect for Indigenous sovereignty.

Greenpeace - Mike Hudema

Greenpeace is an independent, nonprofit, global campaigning organization that uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and their causes. We operate in over 40 countries and have over 2.8 million supporters world wide. Greenpeace challenges government and industry to halt harmful practices by negotiating solutions, conducting scientific research, introducing clean alternatives, carrying out peaceful acts of civil disobedience and educating and engaging the public. Greenpeace's goal is to ensure the ability of Earth to nurture life in all its diversity.

In Alberta Greenpeace focuses on stopping the tar sands and pushing for a green energy revolution right here in the sunniest province in the country. Greenpeace is also a member of RePower Alberta a joint initiative with Sierra Club Prairie seeking to educate Albertans about the potential for renewables in the province and to push for government policy to speed their implementation.

Mike Hudema | Climate and Energy Campaigner | Greenpeace Canada | 780 430 9202 (wk) | 780 504 5601 (cell) | www.greenpeace.ca

The Pembina Institute - Kristi Anderson

Kristi is a Technical and Policy Analyst in the Pembina Institute's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Group. Kristi provides research support to Pembina's consulting group on topics related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental assessment. Prior to joining the Pembina Institute, Kristi conducted environmental impact assessments for commercial-scale wind energy projects in southern Alberta and worked as a consultant on biogas-fueled electricity projects. She has also worked directly for electrical utility companies in both an environmental policy and business development capacity. Kristi draws on this experience to advocate for policies in support of low impact renewable energy and energy efficiency. Kristi holds a B.Sc. (Hon) in Environmental Biology and an MBA with a specialization in Natural Resources and Energy from the University of Alberta, and a Certificate in Environmental Protection from the Royal Military College.

Canadian Federation of University Women

The Canadian Federation of University Women is a self-funded, non profit, non partisan organization of women graduates. Our national public policy includes an appeal to governments to promote energy conservation as well as to research and stimulate the development of renewable energy resources. CFUW AB Council represents the six Alberta clubs of our Federation. Shirley Reid, shirley_reid(at)shaw.ca and Tammy Irwin bumble47(at)telus.net are the Advocacy co-chairs of CFUW AB Council. Tammy attended the Sept. 23/24 Red Deer meeting.

Economic Development Lethbridge - Kris Hodgson

EDL offers services and support to help interested businesses choose Lethbridge for their new location. Through our Choose Lethbridge business investment profiles, we provide information on the excellent infrastructure, transportation systems and natural resources in the city and the county. The consistent, stable growth of the past 10 years demonstrates the strength of the assets our city and area has to offer. EDL also has partnerships with other economic development organizations to elevate opportunities for the entire region. The population of the city of Lethbridge is 86,659 and the County of Lethbridge is 10,302.

Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership - Kris Hodgson

The Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership (SAAEP) is a partnership between Economic Development Lethbridge, SouthGrow Regional Initiative, and Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance that represents 39 municipalities committed to actively building partnerships and promoting renewable energy-related investment in order to support expansion of wind, solar and bio-energy industries. The combined population of the 39 municipalities is 188,700.

Kris Hodgson, Ec.D. | kris(at)saaep.ca | www.saaep.ca

Conergy Sales and Systems - Matt Lisac

Matt Lisac is the regional sales manager for Northen Alberta and BC for Conergy Inc, the Canadian division of Conergy Gmbh, a global PV supply leader based in Hamburg, Germany. Conergy has been in the PV business for over 10 years, and has sold or installed well over 10GW of PV around the world. Matt has been with the company since 2006 working in various roles. He is a member of the Lakeland College advisory committee for their Renewable Energy program, and presented at the Alberta Electrical League 2009 convention. Matt is also a playwright by night, is an accomplished amateur comedian, so he feels very comfortable speaking in front of groups, and he has 3kW of grid-connected PV on his garage which he shovels regularly during the long Edmonton winters.