How the U.S. and Canada maximize their working relationship
BY PATRICK BROWN, Canadian Electricity Association (CEA)
North America is shifting towards a new energy paradigm. Where it was once viewed through the prism of scarcity, some are now beginning to speak of energy in the language of abundance. The grounds for optimism are understandable. For instance, technological breakthroughs on the production side are unlocking previously inaccessible deposits of oil and natural gas, while advances in conservation and efficiency practices are affording customers greater control over their energy use.
Still, the achievement of North American independence from volatile global energy markets is by no means a foregone conclusion. Economic recovery efforts remain fragile. The supply and delivery infrastructure for our resources is in urgent need of upgrade while an evolving landscape of risks poses significant threats to its security. And perhaps most importantly, transformative events in the market—such as the North American boom in natural gas production—have overtaken many of the policy structures in place across Canada and the United States that are essential in managing and integrating the North American power grid.
Too much of the framework shaping governments’ approach on energy issues is therefore not optimally-suited to addressing...
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Brief Background: In the early 1900’s Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) conductor was developed to replace copper wires, due to the war effort when copper was needed for munitions. In the 1970’s growing demand for electricity inspired the development of higher capacity...
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If you thought growth in renewable electricity generation was a big deal – and it is – you haven’t seen anything yet. Full-scale transformation to a cleaner, smarter and more flexible grid will be driven by a suite of innovations – referred to as Distributed Energy Resources – that...
The idea of a cyberattack on the power grid may invoke images of flickering lights and a race against the clock to block an intrusion – but, often the most serious threats aren’t that obvious or dramatic.Cyber threats that target critical infrastructure facilities like the power grid...
