These are recent stories from 2002:

Report Examines Diverging Elgibility of Hydropower as Green Energy
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2002-02-19. A barrier to the use of renewable energy in North America is the different way the technology is defined, according to a report from the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation. These discrepancies represent a barrier to trade within the continental free trade agreement.

U.S. Firm Enters License for Wind Turbine Systems with Canadian Company
SACRAMENTO, California 2002-02-27. Sustainable Development International of Nevada has entered an agreement for wind turbine systems with Regenerative Power Manufacturing of Canada. The joint venture will manufacture wind turbine and flywheel energy storage systems of 30 kWh capacity.

Investment Company Launches Fund for Social Leaders
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2002-02-18. A Canadian investment firm has launched the 'Social Leaders Fund' to invest in renewable energy companies that are committed to environmental sustainability, such as Ballard Power, Canadian Hydro Developers and Vestas Wind Systems.

U.S. Utility Buys Canadian Battery for Large-Scale Load Leveling
VANCOUVER, British Columbia 2002-02-13. A vanadium redox commercial energy battery from Vanteck Technology Corp will help the U.S. utility, PacifiCorp, to provide power in a remote area of southeastern Utah. The system in the first large-scale use of the technology in North America.

Canada Must Support Renewables in Campaign Against GHG Emissions
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2002-02-07. The David Suzuki Foundation says the Canadian government has taken "few concrete actions" to reduce GHG emissions, and uses "loose phrases" such as "'encourage' the development of renewable energy" in its plans, but such language "lacks teeth."

Canadian Company Pilots Cheaper Ethanol From Cellulose
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2002-02-07. Iogen Corp is completing a pilot ethanol plant to show how ethanol can be produced from cellulose plant fiber. It expects to start producing 3,000 gallons a day of fuel grade ethanol this spring, using 40 tons a day of wheat straw feedstock.

First Canadian Geothermal Power Lease Shows Promise
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2002-02-06. Independent analysis indicates a high temperature geothermal reservoir under the only geothermal lease issued in Canada for the commercial production of electricity, at Meager Creek, 170 km north of Vancouver, with an estimated potential of 200 MW of electricity. 

Hydro-Quebec Involved in Hydrogen Storage
MONTREAL, Quebec 2002-02-01. Hydro-Québec CapiTech, Shell Hydrogen and Germany's GfE Gesellschaft für Elektrometallurgie have received regulatory approval to develop and market hydrogen storage products using metal hydrides.

Canadian Investment Fund to Focus on Alternative Energies
TORONTO, Ontario, 2002-01-31. An investment company has launched Canada’s first labour-sponsored investment fund to capitalize on the “rapidly growing global demand” for renewable energy. Triax Capital says $10 to $15 trillion will be invested globally in renewable energy projects in the next ten years.

Fuel Cell Firm Develops Electrolyzer to Turn Wind or Solar Power into Hydrogen
GreenVOLT Power Corp says it will complete initial contracts for wind turbine energy storage systems to be beta-tested early next year. The Canadian company says it has seen strong interest in its Saltwater-Air-Magnesium Fuel-Cell technology, and is shipping production units.

North American Agency Quantifies Environmental Issues
MONTREAL, Quebec. Less than half of the rivers in North America run freely along their natural course without dams, according to the first publication of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, which reports to governments in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The report says prosperity in North America is creating environmental ills. 

B.C. Hydro Seeks Renewable Energy for GHG Offsets
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2002-01-24. A large hydroelectric utility wants to obtain greenhouse gas offsets from renewable energy facilities anywhere in the world. BC Hydro has issued an international request for proposals for 5.5 million tonnes of GHG offsets from renewable energy and other technologies.

Government Department Urges PV Incentive in Canada
VARENNES, Quebec, 2002-01-22. The Canadian government should educate its citizens on the potential value of solar photovoltaic systems, and consider launching an incentive by 2005 for residential PV rooftop systems, according to an internal NRCan report.

Canada to Monitor Solar DHW Systems
OTTAWA, Ontario. Natural Resources Canada wants to monitor solar hot water systems installed under its Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative. NRCan is supporting several pilot projects to promote the installation and purchase of solar DHW systems in the residential sector, and wants two years of monitoring and repairs for systems installed in Peterborough and Toronto.

Partnership to Integrate Fuel Cell Inverter with Utility Grid
TORONTO, Ontario, 2002-01-14. A developer of solid oxide fuel cells, Global Thermoelectric Inc of Canada, has signed a letter of intent with Advanced Energy Systems Ltd of Australia, to develop power electronics and control technologies for Global's distributed energy products. 

Canadian PV Company Releases New Solar Charger
MONTREAL, Quebec. ICP Global Technologies has released a 350 g solar charger, ‘iSun,' for use with cellular telephones, MP3 players, PDAs, laptops and other electronic devices. The unit has a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket, 7 input plugs and suction cups to mount on windows. 

Canadian Fund Buys Renewable Facility in U.S.
TORONTO, Ontario. The Great Lakes Hydro Income Fund has offered 11 million trust units at $13.75 each, to fund the purchase the Great Northern Paper hydroelectric generation system in Maine, for US$156.5 million. The Fund now owns or manages three hydro facilities with 446 MW capacity, as well as transmission and distribution systems in Quebec, B.C. and Maine. 

Italian Companies Build Renewables Plant in Canada
ROME, Italy, 2002-01-07. The Italian energy group, ENEL SpA, has built renewable energy power plants in Canada and the U.S., with total capacity of 53 MW. Its subsidiaries, Erga and CHI Renewable Energy, commissioned the 23 MW St. Felician biomass project in Quebec to burn wood bark for generation.

Wind Energy Could Expand in Eastern Ontario
KINGSTON, Ontario, 2002-01-04. Supporters of a proposed windfarm in eastern Ontario say 120 turbines could be installed near Lake Ontario to generate electricity for the city of Kingston.

Inverter Manufacturer Recommends Action on SW Units
ARLINGTON, Washington, 2002-01-02. Xantrex Technology Inc has released special instructions for its dealers to address questions surrounding its Trace SW inverter. Testing will be complete soon on an accessory that can be installed on grid-tied installations.

California Solar Sites Use Canadian Monitoring Software
VICTORIA, British Columbia, 2001-12-31. Solar systems in southern California are being monitored over the internet using software from a Canadian company. Power Measurement has installed ION energy meters and software at DG facilities of RealEnergy, to support real-time energy monitoring of assets.

U.S. Company To Buy VAWT Design and Redox Battery
BRIGHTON, Michigan, US, 2001-12-31. The U.S. company McKenzie Bay International has signed a letter of intent to acquire Dermond Inc. The Canadian firm has been developing isolated grid solutions and vertical axis wind turbines. 

Canada Company Wants to Sell Nevada Geothermal Power
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-12-27. A Canadian company, Continental Ridge Resources Inc, has responded to a tender to sell geothermal power to a large utility in Nevada. The utility will require 504,000 MWh in 2004, rising to 1,162,000 MWh by 2006.

Canadian Industry Welcomes Government Funding for Renewables
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-12-21. Proposed spending by the federal government to support wind energy, hydropower and other renewable energies has received positive support from industry. The measures are expected to result in 360 MW of new generation from renewables, with new investment of $700 million.

Environmental Commission Researches North America Power
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2001-12-21. The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation is finalizing a report on trends in electricity trade, to stimulate discussion about the need to coordinate environmental policies and the effect of market integration on the competitiveness of renewable energy.

Canadian Government Releases Draft Definition of Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-12-20. Canadians have less than three months to comment on the definition of renewable energy proposed by the federal government. Certification for green power would be provided to hydro dams that retain water for less than 48 hours.

Canada Expands Support for Wind and Hydro Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-12-19. The Canadian government wants to increase support for certain renewable energy technologies. The federal budget proposes a production incentive for electricity generated from wind turbines and eligibility for renewables projects under the accelerated capital cost allowance Class 43.1.

Canada Invests Millions to Reduce GHG Emissions
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-12-18. The Canadian government will spend $425 million on 28 initiatives to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. The initiatives will reduce Canada's GHG emissions by 23.7 megatonnes by 2010; the funding is part of the government's $1.1 billion five-year commitment to reduce emissions by 65 megatonnes. 

Canadian Cities to Receive $4.5 Million for Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-12-14. Thirty-nine municipal governments will receive funding for 42 studies and projects which use renewable energy. The funding comes from the Green Municipal Funds, administered by Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Ontario Politicians Confused over Renewable Energy
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-12-13. A government committee investigating alternative energy in Ontario has found "considerable uncertainty and debate" on the meaning of ‘green energy,' and the Select Committee on Alternative Fuel Sources wants witnesses to define the term.

Boralex Moves into Wind Energy in France
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2001-12-13. The Canadian company Boralex Inc has signed an agreement with the French wind power company, Seris S.A., to set up a joint venture for the construction and operation of a 10.4 MW wind power facility in Avignonet-Lauragais, in the south of France. 

Canadian Government to Define Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-12-11. The Canadian government has issued a draft regulation to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Once finalized, the Guideline on Renewable Low-Impact Electricity will formalize licensing and certification criteria under the federal Environmental Choice Program. 

Dutch Solar Car Beats U.S., Australian and Canadian Entries
ADELAIDE, Australia, AU, 2001-12-07. A team from The Netherlands won the World Solar Challenge for cars that raced 3,000 km across Australia. A Canadian car, Mirage from Queen's University, was sixth. 

Pulp Steam Reformer to Convert Biomass to Hydrogen
TRENTON, Ontario, 2001-12-07. A large boiler has been delivered to Norampac Inc as part of a Cdn$30 million Pulse Enhanced Steam Reform waste management system for the disposal of black liquor pulp waste and its conversion into clean burning hydrogen. 

Report Urges Regulations to Encourage Micropower in Canada
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-12-06. Government and industry regulators have been challenged to allow micropower technologies to grow in Canada. “There is an accelerating world demand for environmentally friendly power, generated with PV arrays, wind turbines, fuel cells and microturbines,” says Electro-Federation Canada.

Toronto Launches Project to Install Solar Thermal Systems
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-12-06. Toronto Hydro Energy Services has launched a pilot project to install 30 solar water heaters at a “significantly reduced price” using new technology. Installed systems will cost $1,900 for two 4x8-foot collectors, a saving of 25 percent off THES’s regular price of $2,500, says Ken Nakahara.

Ontario Windfarm Receives Environmental Clearance
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-12-05. The first windfarm in Ontario will have no environmental impacts, according to a screening report accepted by the provincial Ministry of the Environment. The 10 MW Huron Wind facility will be built on the shores of Lake Huron, adjacent to the Bruce nuclear reactor.

Spanish Company to Build Windfarms with Canadian Oil Firm
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-11-21. Two Spanish wind energy companies of the EHN group have entered a joint venture with Canada's oilsands company, Suncor Energy, to develop and operate wind projects across Canada. Iberdrola SA and Energia Hidroelectrica de Navarra will join Suncor in a venture called SunNar.

Canadians Favour Hydropower, says Industry Survey
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-30. A majority of Canadians support more hydropower projects, according to a survey commissioned by the Canada Hydropower Association. Eighty-five percent label hydropower as a renewable energy, while 60 percent say it is developed with respect for the environment and local communities. 

Utility to Develop Wave Power on West Coast
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-11-26. The provincial utility on Canada's west coast wants to develop 20 MW of green energy, including a demonstration project in wave energy technology. BC Hydro is reviewing submissions for a RFP issued this summer, calling for the development of wave, wind and micro-hydro technologies. 

Canadian Rechargeable Batteries to Hit Market Soon
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-29. The Canadian company, Energy Visions, has installed prototype manufacturing equipment at its research facility for the construction of its proprietary Nickel Zinc technology for rechargeable batteries. Some segments of the battery market report annual growth of 25 percent.

Hydro Group Pushes Hydroelectricity to Fight Climate Change
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-16. The annual meeting of the Canadian Hydropower Association was used to discuss climate change and the role of its members in reducing GHG emissions. "The export of clean, renewable hydropower to the United States is good for all, Canadians as well as Americans," says CHA's Pierre Fortin.

Canadian Think Tank Denies CO2 Global Warming
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-11-21. Climate change is not linked to industrial emissions of GHG, and rises in CO2 could be beneficial, according to Canada's Fraser Institute. It says most GHG effect arises from water vapour in the air and clouds, with minor contributions from gases such as CO2 and methane.

Canadian Government Wants to Clarify Tax Issues for Wind
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-15. The Canadian government is reviewing the definition of a test wind turbine, which may lead to changes under federal tax law. 

Small Hydro Facility Planned for West Coast
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-11-15. A small hydroelectric facility will be built with support from a utility in Alberta. Global Cogenix Industrial of Vancouver and EPCOR Power Development of Edmonton, will complete a 10 MW run-of-river facility at Log Creek, 200 km northeast of Vancouver. 

‘Green Hotel' Group Pushes Renewable Energy
HOUSTON, Texas, 2001-11-15. A Canadian hotel is promoted by the Green Hotels Association as an example of conservation in the face of high energy costs. Aurum Lodge in Alberta generates up to 90 percent of its electricity from solar and wind, and almost all of its ambient heat and water heating from solar energy and wood.

New Heat Technologies to be Applicable to Solar
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-11-06. A Canadian company says it has developed a technology that uses small solid-state devices to generate electricity by harnessing heat flow. Borealis Exploration Ltd says potential applications include generation from geothermal and conversion of solar energy. 

Latest Ballard Automotive Fuel Cell Goes Out
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-11-14. Ballard Power Systems says the first evaluation units of its advanced fuel cell platform, the Ballard Mark 902, have been delivered to customers while orders for delivery of production units by end of this year are being received. 

Quebec Doctors to Promote Clean Air
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2001-11-13. Medical associations in Quebec will work with the David Suzuki Foundation to increase public awareness of the health effects of air pollution and global warming. "A ratified Kyoto Protocol will help protect the health of future generations by encouraging cleaner energy policies," it says. 

Company Acquires Desalination and Solar Technologies
KELOWNA, British Columbia, 2001-11-09. A Canadian company will acquire new technology to use solar energy to desalinate water and to produce hydrogen, liquid fuels and electricity directly from atmospheric CO2. Sun Power Corp wants to produce fresh water at less than US$0.50 per thousand gallons.

Canada to Offer Incentive for Suppliers of Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-07. The federal government will provide a financial incentive to emerging renewable energy distributors "to stimulate sales in residential and small-business markets." A request for proposals is expected to be released by the end of this year or early in 2002, and will be sent to distributors of electricity. 

Canadian Windfarm Sells More Output to Oil City
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-11-07. One of the largest renewable energy companies in Canada will sell more green power to the municipal electric utility in Calgary. Canadian Hydro Developers Inc will sell 35,000 megawatt hours a year to ENMAX Energy, from 20 new turbines at the Cowley Ridge North and Sinnott facilities.

Armed Forces Look at Portable Methanol Fuel Cells
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-06. Defence departments in both Canada and the United States will have demonstration fuel cell units built in order to evaluate Direct Methanol Fuel Cells in military applications. Energy Visions says the U.S. Department of Defence and Defence R&D Canada want to study its proprietory technology.

Wind Doesn't Work in the North, says Utility
HAY RIVER, Northwest Territories, 2001-11-02. Wind energy does not work well in northern Canada, according to the head of Northwest Territories Power. The utility has been involved in four wind projects but, "the results have not been very good," says Leon Courneya in a note sent to all customers.

Renewable Site Featured on New TV Station
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-11-01. The first environmental television channel has been launched in Canada. Programs on ‘the green channel' are designed to explore the environment and alternative energy. One of the first groups profiled was the 'canadian association for renewable energies' and its ‘GreenHosting.org' internet service. 

College Installs Windmill in Ontario
CORNWALL, Ontario, 2001-10-29. The first commercial wind turbines in eastern Ontario has been installed on a campus of St Lawrence College along the St Lawrence River. The 40 kW turbine will generate electricity for the college's 800-student campus in Cornwall, and the annual output is expected to be worth $3,000 to $5,000. 

Tallest Wind Turbine in Western Canada Commissioned on Native Land
EDMONTON, Alberta, 2001-10-24. The tallest wind turbine in western Canada has started to generate electricity for the Peigan Indian Utility Corp and EPCOR Power Development. The 900 kW turbine will generate 2,960 MW hours of electricity each year, and will be certified under the national EcoLogo program. 

Renewable Hydrogen Fuel Company Claims Take-off Imminent
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-10-23 [SolarAccess.com ] Stuart Energy Systems says it will tap into market opportunities for hydrogen production systems that are cost effective and environmentally safe. In the past year, it has delivered a unit integrated with a wind turbine, to demonstrate the feasibility of storing hydrogen fuel from intermittent sources.

Canada's Adoption of Renewables Could Help U.S. Policies
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-10-19. Canada could help to reduce global terrorism by increasing its use of renewable energy in feasible applications, according to the canadian association for renewable energies. "Canada could accelerate adoption of renewables to free up oil and natural gas to be sent south," suggests Bill Eggertson.

Stop Subsidy for PV in Developing Countries, says Consultant
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-10-17. Very little solar PV power is used in developing countries, despite the fact that the technology is ideal for small power loads, according to the manager of a renewable energy consulting firm in Britain. Average daily loads in developing regions typically are less than 1 kWh, says Bernard McNeilis.

Companies Invest in More Efficient Hydro Use
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-10-17. Construction will start soon on a $65 million hydroelectric facility in Canada's eastern province. The Exploits River Hydro Partnership project will expand hydro plants at Grand Falls-Windsor and Bishop's Falls, to increase annual output by 140 gigawatt hours. 

Green Power Rise for Emergency Fuel Cell
ORILLIA, Ontario, 2001-10-16. GreenVolt Power Corp says it has tested a 150 percent increase in power output capability of its PM-120 Magnesium-Air-Saltwater fuel cell. The fuel cell's original 24 watt capability now is 40 watt, and has a wet weight of 7 lbs, compared with a lead-acid battery of 95 Ah rating that weighs ten times more. 

Technology Convergence Seeks Partner to Process Methanol
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-10-11. A Canadian company has patented a process to make ‘green' methanol. Technology Convergence is planning a plant for its process which officials say has major cost advantages over current North American producers and reduces emissions of carbon by 80 percent over current methods.

Exploration Company Wants to Mine the Wind
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-10-10. A mining company wants to drop its current business activities and concentrate on the market for wind energy. Minera Cortez Resources will change its business to a wind energy generation company, to be called the Western Wind Energy Corporation. 

Canadian Government Falls Short on Climate Change Response
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-10-09. Action on sustainable development by the Canadian government is slower than it should be, says the Commissioner of the Environment & Sustainable Development. "Some departments view their SD activities as a paper exercise rather than truly trying to make their activities more sustainable," says Johanne Gélinas in a report to the House of Commons.

Analysis Software Increases Training of Practitioners
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-10-05. The Canadian government has trained 500 people on software to perform pre-feasibility analyses on renewable energy installations. There have been 18,000 downloads of RETScreen since it was launched in 1998, to examine costs for wind turbines, solar PV, solar thermal water or air systems, earth energy heat pumps, small hydro turbines, biomass or passive solar heating. 

Soltek Installs Solar System at Science Centre in Two Days
REGINA, Saskatchewan, 2001-10-05. The first three-phase solar system in western Canada has been installed at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina. The 2.8 kW system has 28 Siemens PV modules and roof mounts, and is designed to provide an educational showcase on solar energy for visitors to the facility.

Xantrex Expands Manufacturing to Meet Demand for Solar
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-10-03. A company that manufactures a solar inverter has been forced to increase its production facility to meet consumer demand. In January, production capacity for the Sun Tie line was 3 MW, but Xantrex Technology Inc has added personnel and production shifts to increase capacity to 35 MW.

Rechargeable Battery in Takeover Battle
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-10-03. Technology for the Vanadium Redox rechargeable battery originated at a university in Australia, but Vanteck VRB Technology of Vancouver is trying to take control of Pinnacle VRB, which it claims has internal problems which is affecting the commercialization of the technology.

Canadian Utilities Recognize the Role of Renewables
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-10-02. The association of electric utilities in Canada says its members are steadily improving their environmental performance, with a particular focus on air quality. The Canadian Electricity Association annual report examines air quality and reports on the growth of renewable energy sources.

Government Green Energy Committee Starts Work
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-10-01. A special government committee has started to explore the potential of renewable energy in Ontario. The Select Committee on Alternative Fuel Sources will "recommend ways of supporting the development and application of environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives" to fossil fuel sources.

Manitoba Wants Renewables in Continental Policy on Climate Change
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, 2001-09-28. A special task force set up by the government of Manitoba has called for increased production and use of renewable energy and a reduction in the use of fossil fuels that contribute to provincial greenhouse gas emissions.

Global Agency Should Study New Application of Earth Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-09-27. A Canadian researcher wants the International Energy Agency to examine the use of earth energy heat pumps to extract waste energy from sanitary sewers. Otto Svec wants the IEA to establish a new Annex that will explore the feasibility at a new school to be built in the city of Ottawa.

Ontario Power Plans New Hydroelectric Station
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-09-26. Ontario Power Generation will construct a small hydroelectric station near its current Ear Falls facility in northwestern Ontario. The new 12 MW station will use the available water and OPG wants to obtain ‘EcoLogo' certification to contribute to its goal to quadruple green energy by 2005.

Boralex Buys U.S. Generating Plants
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2001-09-26. The Canadian company Boralex Inc. has purchased two power generating stations that burn wood residue in the state of Maine. The two stations have total capacity of 80 MW. 

Residential Solar System Reaches Milestone
VICTORIA, British Columbia, 2001-09-25. The first solar-powered urban house on Canada's west coast has generated 1 million watt-hours of electricity in its first 12 months of operation. The system consists of a 1 kW array of Photowatt panels installed last summer on a south-facing roof.

Canadian City Gets U.S. Help to Go Green
NEW YORK, New York, US, 2001-09-24. The city of Peterborough is kicking off a community-wide initiative to reduce energy consumption, costs and environmental emissions. The city expects to save $150,000 in energy costs each year, yielding a payback of ten years.

Canada Launches First Green-Powered Internet Server
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-09-21. The first internet hosting service that is powered by renewable energy has been launched in Canada. The canadian association for renewable energies will use an internet server based in Alberta, the only province in Canada to have deregulated its energy sector and to offer green energy.

Canada Buys New Fuelcell System for Deepsea Divers
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-09-21. A company from Albuquerque, Fuelcell Technologies, has been awarded a $277,000 contract to deliver a pre-production fuel cell system to keep deep sea divers warm. The cogen system will deliver both thermal and electrical energy to divers underwater during periods of decompression.

Nova Scotia Seeks Wind Power
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, 2001-09-20. A provincial utility on Canada's east coast wants to install up to 50 MW of generation from wind turbines. Nova Scotia Power will identify a short list this fall based on a RFP issued earlier this summer.

Wind Energy Powers Alberta Transit System
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-09-17. A transit system in the centre of Canada's oil sector is powered by wind energy. Calgary Transit has launched its ‘Ride the Wind!' project that uses renewable energy for the city's Light Rail Transit System, and is the first public transit system in North America to power LRT with wind-generated electricity.

B.C. Government to Examine Role of Renewable Energy
VICTORIA, British Columbia,  2001-09-12. Renewable energy shows "promise" in BC but, to date, it has "not been price competitive," according to government policy. The provincial government has launched an Energy Policy Task Force to develop a comprehensive, long-term energy policy for the province by early next year.

Politicians in U.S. and Canada to Support Renewable Energy
WESTBROOK, Connecticut, US, 2001-09-11. Premiers from eastern Canadian provinces and governors from eastern New England states have agreed to increase their support for renewable energy. They adopted a Climate Change Action Plan that includes measures to increase the use of renewables to reduce GHG emissions.

Ontario Commissions Tallest Wind Turbine in North America
PICKERING, Ontario, 2001-09-11. Ontario Power Generation has thrown the switch on what it claims is the tallest wind turbine in North America. The 1.8 MW Vestas turbine will generate enough electricity to supply 600 homes for a year and, similar to the utility's other operating turbine, is located at the site of a nuclear reactor.

Major Vancouver Development to Incorporate Renewable Energy
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-09-10. Solar and geothermal energy will be considered when the last section of undeveloped waterfront in Vancouver's downtown is developed. Funding of $70,000 will guarantee that alternative energy will be integrated into development plans for the Southeast False Creek project. 

Canadian Firm to Build 25 MW Wood Waste Power Plant
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-09-08. A renewable energy company will build a 25 MW power facility powered by wood residue. Canadian Gas & Electric will build the facility next to a lumber mill in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The facility will produce electrical and steam energy from wood waste that currently is incinerated.

Canadian Solar Cars Leave for Australia Race
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-09-07. Teams from four universities drove their solar-powered cars into the Canadian National Exhibition as one of their last public appearances before leaving to compete in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. The event was sponsored by OPG, which wants to increase green energy generation by 2005.

U.S. Firm Acquires Canadian Power Solutions Company
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, US, 2001-09-02. A U.S. firm has purchased a Canadian company that manufactures power conditioning systems for wind and solar energy applications. SatCon Technology has acquired most assets of Inverpower Controls, which manufactures controls for wind turbines and photovoltaic cells.

Windfarm Starts Feeding Saskatchewan Grid
GULL LAKE, Saskatchewan, 2001-08-31. The first phase of the SunBridge wind power project is generating for the provincial utility grid from three test turbines in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. SunBridge is a $20 million partnership between Suncor Energy and Enbridge in a project that was stimulated by a ten-year $12.4 million commitment from the Canadian government last fall to support green power development in Saskatchewan.

Major Canadian Bank to Support Renewables
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-08-29. A major Canadian bank has set up the first investment group of its kind by a Canadian financial institution, to invest in sustainable development opportunities. The new investment opportunity has been created by Jones Heward Investment Counsel, a member of the Bank of Montreal Group of Companies. The Bank's Private Client Group manages total assets of $235 billion.

Protest Swells Against Proliferation of Quebec Hydro Dams
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-08-24. One of Canada's oldest environmental organizations will launch a petition against plans by the government of Quebec to allow 36 new hydro dams. The Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society will petition a decision to develop "small" dams of 50 MW located on 24 of the province's rivers.

Canadian Public Company is First to Focus on Wind Energy
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-08-23. A company in Toronto says it is the first publicly-traded company in Canada to focus exclusively on wind energy. Minera Cortez Resources will acquire site and wind data rights to refocus its business into wind energy power generation using turbines.

New Inverter Available for Distributed Generation
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-08-17. A Canadian company has started to deliver a 5 kW inverter for use by fuel cells and solar PV facilities. Sustainable Energy Technologies is delivering units for evaluations, and says it has received requests for the unit from electrical and telecommunications companies in Europe and North America.

Canadian Firm May Buy U.S. Solar Company
KELOWNA, British Columbia, 2001-08-10. A company on the west coast wants to buy a U.S. firm that uses solar energy to desalinate water. Hyaton Organics says it has reached an agreement to acquire Sunspring Inc. of Nevada, a company that was formed to convert seawater or brackish water into potable water for human consumption.

Renewables to be Explored by Canada, U.S. and Mexico
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2001-08-09. The United States, Canada and Mexico have signed an agreement to explore market opportunities for renewable energies in the three countries. The agreement is contained in a communique issued by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation at its session in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Hydropower Industry Launches Association in Ontario
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-08-06. A group of hydroelectric generators will promote the growth of waterpower in Ontario, where the electricity market will deregulate in a year. Members of the Ontario Waterpower Association include Ontario Power Generation, Great Lakes Power, Algonquin Power, Beaver Power, Regional Power, Seine River Power, Orillia Power, Abitibi Consolidated and Inco. These suppliers represent 95 percent of hydraulic generating capacity in the province. 

Financing Company to Promote Renewable Energy
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-08-02. A major broker of energy products in the U.S. will become a strategic partner with a venture capital fund that invests in private alternative energy companies. Natsource LLC will join the network of LEAP Energy Fund L.P. to advance the fund's growth, broaden the awareness of the fund's portfolio companies and identify opportunities to maximize the value of emissions credits in the financial markets. 

Canada Comes Third and Fourth in Solar Car Race
CLAREMONT, California, US, 2001-07-25. The longest solar-powered car race has been won by the most expensive car from the University of Michigan. The million-dollar ‘M-Pulse’ completed the ten day, 2,247-mile American Solar Challenge race from Chicago to the California town of Claremont, in an accumulated time of 56 hours, 11 minutes. The University of Missouri finished second, at 80 minutes longer. Canada's University of Waterloo took third place, with the Queen's University team making a comeback after a crash to finish in fourth spot.

Canadian Renewable Energy Firm Raises Money
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-07-26. One of the largest renewable energy companies in Canada has obtained almost $5 million in private funding. Canadian Hydro Developers says ARC Canadian Energy Venture Fund 2 will increase its investment in the western company through a common share equity financing.

Canada Adopts U.S. Energy Efficiency Program
WASHINGTON, DC, US, 2001-07-24. The Canadian government has adopted a U.S. program to promote energy efficient and environmentally friendly products. Natural Resources Canada has signed an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to bring ‘Energy Star’ products to Canadian consumers.

G8 Report Sees Renewables as Key Energy for Poor
GENOA, Italy, IT, 2001-07-20. Green energies like wind and solar power could play a major role in improving the lives of millions of the world's poorest people, says a report to be handed to world leaders at a summit in Genoa, Italy next weekend. The report, co-written by Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell, says G8 countries should aim to ensure renewable energies reach one billion people by the end of the decade. The executive director of c.a.r.e., Bill Eggertson, was a member of the advisory group to that G8 task force.

Canada Opposes Renewable Energy, says Environmental Group
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-07-17. Canada should be condemned for opposing a recommendation to increase the use of renewable energy around the world, says the environmental group Sierra Club. Canada and the United States will oppose a report on renewables that was produced by a task force of the G8 nations. The recommendations include a goal of serving one billion people with renewables by 2010.

Canada Expands Support for Renewables
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-07-12. The Canadian government has quietly extended its financial support for renewable energy by extending the Renewable Energy Deployment Incentive from 1998 which supported four non-residential technologies. Natural Resources Canada has extended the program for an additional three years and expanded it to include marketing assistance for solar PV, small wind turbines and micro-hydro power installations. 

Renewable Energy Company Solicits Millions in Private Funding
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-07-10. A Canadian company involved in renewable energy has raised almost $60 million in private equity to expand its operation. Xantrex Technology has completed a $58.5 million placement that will fund product development, market expansion and increasing manufacturing capacity.

Ontario to Study Benefits of Renewables
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-06-29. The government of Ontario will spend a year to study the option of renewable energy. Provincial energy minister Jim Wilson and environment minister Elizabeth Witmer will establish an all party special committee on Alternative Fuel Sources. 

Canada Does Not Support Renewables, says Group
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-06-25. An environmental group in Canada has given the federal government a report card average of ‘D' on its environmental policies.The Sierra Club of Canada says the grade of ‘D' is partly due to pressure from the new government in the United States, which is pressuring Canada to increase its exports of oil and natural gas to meet demand in the U.S.

Alberta Utility Signs First Commercial Client for Green Power
EDMONTON, Alberta, 2001-06-20. The first commercial client of renewable energy in Edmonton will purchase 5 percent of its annual load from wind, small hydro, solar and biomass sources. Capital City Savings & Credit Union will purchase 150,000 kWh of green power each year from EPCOR, the municipal utility.

Alberta Expands Its Manufacturing Capacity in Wind Energy
CROSSFIELD, Alberta, 2001-06-13. RNG Pro-Tech will manufacture slender steel towers that stand 50 m tall and are custom-built to support the 660 kW wind turbines from Vestas Wind Systems of Denmark. The turbines are to be used by Vision Quest Windelectric at its Castle River windfarm near Pincher Creek, Alberta.

Wind Wants to Supply 5 Percent of Canada’s Electricity
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-06-12. The wind energy industry in Canada wants to install 10,000 MW of turbines by 2010, and generate 30 million MWh of power by that time. "Wind energy is ... one of the few technologies which can be installed rapidly to meet the current electrical energy shortage," says CanWEA.

Coal Utility to Develop Hydro Facility in Canada
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-06-11. A power utility in Alberta will develop a 10 MW hydro project in the neighbouring province of B.C. EPCOR Power Development will work with Global Cogenix Industrial in a joint venture to develop and operate the run of river project at Log Creek, 200 km north of Vancouver.

Canadian Government to Increase Use of Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-06-07. The government of Canada will rely more on renewable energy to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 31 percent by 2010, compared with 1990 levels. "As the country's single largest enterprise we have an obligation to show strong, visible leadership in reducing emissions," says minister Ralph Goodale.

Works Starts on Canadian Windfarm
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-06-06. Preliminary site work has started on a major wind energy facility in central Canada. The SunBridge power project is a $20 million partnership between Suncor Energy and Enbridge.

Wind to Power Government Facilities on Canada’s East Coast
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, 2001-01-04. Eight windmills will be constructed on Canada’s east coast to generate green power for federal facilities on PEI. The federal and provincial governments have signed a $1.1 million ten-year partnership to install the turbines next to the existing Atlantic Wind Test Site.

Canada Wants to Work with U.S. on Electricity Issues
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-05-31. There should be "more concerted cooperative action" on energy issues between Canada and the U.S. "It is in the interest of energy consumers in both Canada and the U.S. to expand on the existing electricity relationship," says Hans Konow, president of the Canadian Electricity Association.

Renewable Energy Receives Support in Canadian Projects
BANFF, Alberta, 2001-05-28. Renewable energy will be used in a number of municipal projects across Canada. Sixty-one projects will be funded under the Green Municipal Funds offered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Hydro Facility to be Upgraded in Northern Ontario
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-05-28. A hydroelectric facility will be overhauled and expanded by late next year in Ontario. Great Lakes Power of Sault Ste. Marie has awarded a design-build contract for the redevelopment of its High Falls power station.

Canada Buys Large Solar Simulator
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-05-24. The Canadian government has purchased one of the largest solar simulators in the world to test solar thermal panels and solar electric modules. Natural Resources Canada paid $555,000 to buy the 200 kW lamp from Vortek Industries of Vancouver.

Markets for Renewables to Benefit from Universal Converter
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-05-29. A Canadian company has developed a bi-directional converter that has potential for the solar power market. Sustainable Energy Technologies says the DC/DC power converter is a key component of its system for distributed generation power solutions, including fuel cells and solar power systems.

Fuel Cell Uses Wind or PV to Make Hydrogen on the Spot
ORILLIA, Ontario, 2001-05-23. A Canadian company says its fuel cell can be energized by wind or solar photovoltaic sources, and can split water into its component gasses for multiple needs. Greenvolt Power says its Refcell reverse fuel cell uses less energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water.

Canadian Government Supports New Solar Company
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-05-22. The Canadian government will provide a grant of almost $1 million to develop a new solar energy company. The federal government will contribute $925 000 for the commercialization of a solar water heating system to be developed by EnerWorks and a manufacturer of pumps.

Reaction: Bush Energy Plan Harms Canada and the Climate
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-05-18. The Bush energy policy’s strategy to produce more oil and natural gas in Canada to meet U.S. demand will cause greenhouse gas emissions to rise dramatically in both countries, says the David Suzuki Foundation.

Toronto School Board to Install Solar Energy
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-05-17. A school board in Canada’s largest city will launch an environmental initiative that includes the installation of solar electric systems on some schools. The Toronto Catholic District School Board launched the three-year EnergyWorks self-funding $20 million initiative. 

Grant to Examine Wind and Solar Energy under Deregulation
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-05-14. A grant of $170,000 to study the potential of wind and solar power is part of $346 million awarded by the Canadian government under its university research program. The five-year grants were awarded in a nation-wide competition conducted by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council.

Report says Canada Has Potential for Geothermal Generation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-05-04. An investment company in British Columbia says Canada could develop its first geothermal site with a capacity of 100 MW of generation. The reservoir of the South Meager geothermal project on the west coast has an average temperature of 220 to 240?C, and the potential for heat energy from the field is estimated to be equivalent to at least 110 MW of electrical power capacity for 30 years.

Italian Firm to Develop Wind Energy on Canada’s East Coast
ROME, Italy, 2001-05-03. The renewable energy subsidiary of the Italian energy company, Enel may develop a major wind energy development in Newfoundland. The provincial power utility, Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro, selected the NeWind Group to undertake a wind energy demonstration project last month.

Ontario Government Told to Support Renewables
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-04-25. The Ontario Clean Energy Coalition wants the province of Ontario to promote renewable energy when the electricity sector is restructured next year, saying that opening the province’s electricity market will enable renewable energy to compete for power sales.

Canada’s Prairies to Install Large Windfarm
REGINA, Saskatchewan, 2001-04-20. The first major supply of green power in Saskatchewan will come from a $20 million wind project that will be constructed near Gull Lake. Enbridge and Suncor Energy hope to start construction of the SunBridge Wind Power Project this May and commission it by June of next year.

Emission Trading Group Registers First Solar Water Trade
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-04-17. Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading Pilot has registered its first traded project involving solar water heating. The provincial Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks has purchased the emission reductions from the installation of a solar water heating system at the municipal recreation centre in Lillooet, BC.

Dams Should be Decommissioned in Canada
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-04-11. The Outdoor Recreation Council and the British Columbia Institute of Technology on Canada’s west coast have released a list of dams they say should be decommissioned or dismantled.They claim that a large number of hydroelectric dams were developed 50 years but attitudes have changed since as people witness the serious environmental and social costs of dams. 

Canadian Company Gets British Funding for Renewable Energy
LONDON, England, 2001-04-02. A Canadian biomass company, DynaMotive Technologies of Vancouver has received one of Britain’s largest grants to develop its process. It received £1.16 million from Trade & Industry to enable commercial production testing of an integrated BioOil and electricity generating plant in the U.K.

Patent Issued on Power Inverter
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-03-29. A Canadian company says the U.S. patent office has issued a patent for its power inverter technology. Sustainable Energy Technologies . says the patent protects 25 claims covering the inverter that is key to its integrated energy management and power conditioning products.

Polar Conference Calls for More Renewables
WHITEHORSE, Yukon, 2001-03-27. Delegates to a conference in Canada’s Arctic want more action to encourage the use of renewable energy as a means to reduce the environmental damage in northern regions. The three-day Circumpolar Climate Change Summit released the ‘Whitehorse Declaration on Northern Climate Change.

Canadian Utility Launches Energy Venture Company
TORONTO, Ontario, 2001-03-26. The former electric utility in Canada’s largest province, Ontario Power Generation, has created a venture company, OPG Ventures, to invest in new emerging energy and related energy technology companies such as those that are green, small and distributed.

British Company to Develop Wind Energy in Ontario
LONDON, England, 2001-03-21. A British energy company and a Canadian power utility will develop a wind energy facility near a nuclear reactor in Ontario. British Energy and Ontario Power Generation have formed a joint venture to develop a wind farm near the Bruce nuclear generating facility on Lake Huron. 

Canada Puts Conditions on Support for Renewables Abroad
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-03-14. The Canadian government will promote greater use of fossil fuels and nuclear while encouraging renewable energy technologies only if they are driven by market demand, at the ninth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York next month.

Canada to Approve Standard on Storage for Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-03-13. Canada will adopt a national standard to encourage use of storage for renewable energy technologies. Underground thermal energy storage is a process of storing free or cheaply available energy within the subsurface of the earth. The practice is used in several European countries, particularly the Netherlands and Sweden, with at least ten major projects already operating in Canada and the United States.

Canada to Investigate Ocean Energy
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, 2001-03-12. The provincial electric utility in BC will commission a study to assess tidal and ocean currents near Vancouver Island. BC Hydro will contract with Blue Energy to study ocean energy resources under a utility program to evaluate potential renewable energy sources.

Canadian Company Claims High Efficiency on Power Inverter
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-03-12. A Canadian company says its inverter can convert DC power to AC electricity at a peak efficiency of 96 percent. Sustainable Energy Technologies says initial testing of its 4 kW inverter shows peak efficiency at 20 percent of full load, which it claims exceeds industry achievements. The test shows that efficiency drops slightly as power is increased, maintaining an average of 95 percent efficiency at full load.

Renewables are Needed to Help Canada During Deregulation
DRAYTON VALLEY, Alberta, 2001-03-09. A research group says Alberta must promote renewable energy to cope with deregulation of the electricity sector. The Pembina Institute says government must address the crisis in Alberta by establishing a renewable energy portfolio standard, a renewable energy production incentive, and a net metering program for small-scale renewable energy sources.

Canadian Company Launches Solar Project in China
CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, 2001-02-16. A Canadian company that owns one of the larger solar PV companies in the world has started a pilot project to generate solar electricity for homes in rural China. ATS Automation Tooling Systems will use its photovoltaic technology to provide solar power in western China. 

Canadian Oil Company Invests in Renewable Energy in U.S.
CALGARY, Alberta, 2001-02-20. One of Canada’s larger oil companies has made an equity investment of $3 million in a company that develops solar and wind energy in the state of Vermont. Sunoco will invest in Northern Power Systems of Waitsfield.

Canada Urged to Increase Support for Renewable Energy
OTTAWA, Canada, 2001-02-19. The Canadian government has subsidised "dirty and dangerous" energy sources in Canada for decades, and a new environmental group EcoAction.ca says funding continues while Canada lags behind most other countries in developing new markets based on clean, renewable energy sources.

Canadian Solar Energy Firm Launches New Product
MONTREAL, Quebec, 2001-02-15. A solar manufacturing facility in Canada has launched a new program to provide solar energy for consumers who require independent and dependable power. ICP Global Technologies says its SOLARPRO line of PV modules can avoid power blackouts.

Canadian Cities are Subsidized to Consider Renewables
OTTAWA, Ontario, 2001-02-12. A city in New Brunswick will receive $100,000 to undertake a renewable energy feasibility study in wind power. Funding to the Ville de Lamèque is one of the first 12 feasibility studies to be supported under the Green Municipal Enabling Fund administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

British Columbia to Double Target for Renewables
SURREY, British Columbia, 2001-02-08. The province of B.C. will double its new generation from wind, small hydro and solar. The government will conserve energy in public facilities and work with BC Hydro to expand the use of alternative energy in a plan to meet 10 percent of new electricity demand from renewables.