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CMHC's Housing Market Outlook
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Edmonton's green biofuel tech 'leads world'
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Impact of garbage-to-ethanol process equivalent to removing 42,000 vehicles off road
Mariam Ibrahim, Edmonton Journal September 1
The world's first industrial-scale municipal waste-to-biofuels facility began construction in Edmonton on Tuesday.
"This facility is the finest facility of its kind in the world," Mandel said.
The new facility, expected to be operational by late 2011, will produce 36 million litres of biofuels each year, and will help to reduce the province's environmental footprint by six million tonnes over the next 25 years -- or the equivalent of removing 42,000 cars from the roads every year. Read more........
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City rebates will shine light on shifts to solar energy
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Residents qualify for $9,000 cash back on installation costs beginning at $25,000
Keith Gerein, Edmonton Journal - Sept 2
A pilot project, the first of its kind in the city's history, will substantially cut the costs of putting in solar panels and other necessary technology.
Owners of single-family homes can receive a maximum rebate of $9,000 while business are eligible for up to $18,000, depending on the capacity of the system that is installed.
The one-month program has only $200,000 in its budget, meaning it will help only a small number of people. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30 and evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis. Read More........
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Taking control of electricity costs; Smart meters allow users to track exactly how and when they are using energy
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Mary Bitti, Financial Post · Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010
Vancouverites are the first in line for Nissan's new LEAF electric car in 2011 -- a year before global distribution. BC Hydro is gearing up for their arrival, blanketing the city with smart meters and upgrading its electricity grid to support the charging needs of the LEAF. Whether this car is a success, however, depends in part on the ability of owners to charge these cars effectively and take advantage of time-ofuse rates.
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Bright idea in a tidy package
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All-in-one solar street lights aimed at poor countries with iffy power supplies
Edmonton Journal - Aug 31 - David Finlayson
It's ideal for Third World countries where power is unreliable or nonexistent. And it would be a cost effective alternative to the standard cables and poles installations here, he says.
"Our EnerPulsar technology is a fail-safe system that's one-tenth the price."
TransAlta, Manitoba Hydro and Hydro One in Ontario are interested in it. Hydro One alone has 300 applications to join the grid once a costeffective solution is found.
Read More..........
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Power-line rally offered glimpse of next election; Stelmach should have sent stand-in
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Edmonton Journal - Aug 27 - Graham Thomson
On the one side were 500 people upset over proposed transmission lines. On the other were the three major opposition party leaders, including the Wildrose Alliance's Danielle Smith.
Without someone arguing that the province desperately needs new transmission lines, the meeting became an unopposed two-hour argument that government is out to expropriate land, undermine property rights and charge electricity consumers $16 billion -- all with the aim of exporting power to the United States. Read further.....
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Geothermal group says Canada's potential untapped
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By Nicole Mordant, Reuters - August 10 Calgary Herald
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Are Utilities Prepared for the Smart Grid Experience
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Forces in the new energy economy are coming together to drive utilities to adopt new ways of serving their customers. Utilities, regulators, shareholders, credit rating agencies, and customers are examining strategies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and demand response. At the same time, retail providers are pro-viding new product offerings. New technology, such as smart metering, energy management applications, and smart appliances, is changing the way utilities will be interacting with their customers. But are utilities ready for these changes and the implications for customer engagement?
Read More Article supplied by Electricity Today
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Youth Employment Program Offers Fresh Start
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If you are a 16-to 24-year-old, unemployed or underemployed person, who is no longer in school and wanting work experience in the local construction industry then the Calgary Construction Association's Youth Employment Program is there to help you build a rewarding career.
Ryan Hagen, program co-ordinator, says it's a nonprofit organization that tries to place youths with over 450 registered employers in the construction association. Read more:
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SNC-Lavalin to build Alaska Power Plant
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From Herald News Services - July 13, 2010
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. said Monday it has won a contract to build a 183-megawatt thermal power plant in Alaska.
The contract, estimated by an analyst to add around $180 million US to SNC's backlog of work, was awarded by Chugach Electric Association, Alaska's largest electric utility. The natural gas-fired plant will be built in Anchorage.
The project represents about 19 per cent of SNC's power project backlog as of the first quarter of this year, said NCP Northland Capital Partners analyst Maxim Sytchev. He expects the power division to contribute 15 per cent of SNC's revenues and operating income this year.
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Solar Powered Plane heads for first Night Flight
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By Vincent Fribault, Reuters -July 7, 2010
The plane, named Solar Impulse, took off for its first 24-hour test flight just after dawn from an air base near this central Swiss town and began climbing above nearby lakes and mountains towards a peak altitude of 8,500 metres (27,900 feet).
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ENMAX charges ahead with Electric Cars
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By Dina O’Meara, Calgary Herald - July 8, 2010
The city-owned utility launched a three-year pilot project Thursday that will replace 10 Enmax and 10 City of Calgary fleet vehicles with battery-operated cars.
Another 80 EVs, as the ultraquiet cars are known, will be made available to Enmax employees at a subsidized price, albeit still more than a gasoline-powered one.
“With electric cars being seven or eight cents per litre equivalent in operating costs, we think that a lot of Alberta consumers will be choosing electric cars for that reason alone,” said Enmax chief executive Gary Holden. Read More
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Spot Power makes Play for Calgary's Residental Electricity Market
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By Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herald - July 6, 2010
Summertime could be getting hotter for Alberta utilities and Calgary's Enmax with the entry of a new retail power provider to the residential market.
Spot Power, which launched its first advertising campaign Monday, also is giving rivals Direct Energy and Just Energy a run for their money as it trades on low overhead and existing billing infrastructure to attract customers.
Read More
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Benefit of smart meters in doubt; Tiny savings after huge cash outlay
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Edmonton Journal By Darcy Henton, May 22, 2010
Some players in Alberta's electricity industry are warning the province that moving too quickly to implement smart-meter technology could be a dumb strategy.
"You can get reductions and you can get pretty big changes, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it," he said. "If you are going to do this, you have to have an in-home, real-time display so when you flip on a light you can see the change in price and how much extra money is spent. If you don't have that, consumers aren't getting the full benefit of the technology."
Read more:
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Alberta's carbon fees called all show, no go
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Calgary Herald - May 6, 2010
Alberta's biggest greenhouse-gas producers paid the provincial government about $63 million last year to cover failures to meet carbon-reduction targets. While Environment Minister Rob Renner called the 2009 results a reflection of the province's commitment to clean energy, critics said the statistics were little more...
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ATCO Midstream, Grow-Gen To Develop Integrated Biorefinery In Canada
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05-May-2010
ATCO Midstream and Grow-Gen Energy have signed an initial partnership agreement to develop an integrated biorefinery in Canada. The refinery will use organic wastes and high-starch wheat to create green electricity, biofertilizer and fuel ethanol.
The project involves the expansion of an existing biogas-to-electricity facility east of Edmonton, near Vegreville, Alberta. The plant currently uses manure from Highland Feeders to create biogas and green power. Read more...
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BGME Calgary is now Maskell Plenzik & Partners Engineering Inc. (MP&P)
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BGME announce that after 10 years in Calgary is now evolved into Maskell Plenzik & Partners Engineering Inc. (MP&P).
Due to the impending retirment of one of the Edmonton partners, and the subsequent sale of the Edmonton office, Calgary is moving forward with a bold new look.
We're proud to unveil our new name and look and we invite you to take a look at our new web site www.mppeng.ca. This new name reflects and acknowledges the company's vision and commitment to our clients as one of western Canada's premier electrical consulting groups.
There has been no change in our management structure or our location, however as part of our evolution we have added some new partners and associates who are just as enthusiastic and eager to provide the same great service that has made us one of the electrical consultants of choice in Western Canada.
For your convenience our phone number remains unchanged, and we have kept the same format for our email address, firstname.lastname@mppeng.ca.
We look forward to serving you under our new name MP&P Engineering!
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BGME NORTH Joins GENIVAR
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May 3, 2010
Beaubien Glover Maskell Engineering North Inc. has joined forces with GENIVAR, a Canadian based professional consulting services firm with more than 4,200 employees operating out of 80 offices across Canada and internationally.
Building upon Beaubien Glover's 20 year tradition of electrical engineering excellence and GENIVAR's five decades of award winning experience, our shared future looks very promising. We want to assure you that it's business as usual. You will see the same familiar faces,providing the same level of service you have come to expect. You'll enjoy the same level of commitment to quality you've always enjoyed.
We want you to know that our primary focus is to continue to serve your needs. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about GENIVAR and the range of services offered by visiting www.GENIVAR.com, where you can review the entire breadth and depth of the GENIVAR organization and learn how they have evolved over nearly half a century. We wish to reaffirm our commitment to maintaining ongoing, one on one relationships with you, our client.
Our continuing goal is to provide you with value added services and cost effective solutions throughout the entire life cycle of your projects. We look forward to serving your needs for many years to come.
Yours truly,
Paul Beaubien and David Glover, P.Eng., Principal
Beaubien Glover Maskell Engineering North Inc.
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Electrical Learning EXPO 16th Annual
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March 25, 2010 Calgary
Alberta Electrical League hosted their 16th Annual EXPO in Calgary March 25, 2010. Thanks to the exhibitors, presenters and volunteer committee it was a tremendous success.
2011 Electrical Learning EXPO will be held in Red Deer. Stay tuned for further details.
The Electrical Learning EXPO provides all companies with an opportunity to show New Products, New Services, New Innovations, and give Presentations & Demonstrations to a captive, educated audience.
Maximize your companies visibility by not only exhibiting but schedule a presentation and or demonstrate your latest product or new technology. This is a great opportunity, if your interested in finding out more information click here or call 1-800-642-5508 or 403-701-3435.
If your interested in exhibiting, please call 1-800-642-5508 or email info@elecleague.ab.ca
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Huge power line no longer needed
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Calgary Herald David Finlayson-edmontonjournal.com April 5, 2010
If AltaLink and Epcor were to actually overbuild the line to the extent currently proposed by the Alberta Electric System Operator, the costs would be particularly burdensome to Alberta industry, which would reduce our overall competitiveness as a province," he wrote.
Read Further
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Power debates charging people up;
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Mechanism for deciding where and how power lines are to be built in province heading to next step of regulatory process
Sherwood Park News By: Dave Quest
Apr 02, 2010
A second study, commissioned by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), concluded that burying a transmission line of this size is feasible, but further studies are required to ensure that it would operate reliably in Alberta's harsh winter conditions.
Read further
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Providers submit power line routes
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7th January 2010 EDMONTON SUN
EPCOR and AltaLink unveiled yesterday their preferred route for a high-voltage power-line proposed for the Edmonton area. The preferred route of the 500-kV Heartland Transmission Project would stretch from existing power lines in south Edmonton and run on the eastern side of the city along..click for further details
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AltaLink to hear input on power line
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January 6, 2010 Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herald
The line, which will ship power from coal-fired plants outside of Edmonton to the Calgary region, faced strong opposition from landowner groups, industrial power consumers and Calgaryowned utility Enmax.
Click for further details.
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AltaLink Seeks Stakeholder Input about New Transmission Line between Edmonton and Calgary areas
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January 6, 2010
AltaLink is hosting 12 open houses between the Edmonton and Calgary regions in February. Information centres will be open in March where stakeholders can talk about the project one-on-one with AltaLink.
For open house and information centre dates, times and locations, visit www.albertaelectricityfuture.ca/westernline.
Full Article
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Career Focus Initiative $10,000
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Through the Government of Canada's Sector Youth Career Focus Program, they are providing wage subsidies to small and medium-sized companies that offer employment to recent engineering and technical graduates. For one year, employers may receive funding that amounts to one-third of new workers' base salaries, to a maximum of $10,000.
Click Here for further details & forms
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