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ARC ENERGY IDEAS

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Jan 30, 2024 • 34min

Crude Realities: Unpacking the Politics and Power of Oil

This week on the podcast, our guest is David Detomasi, an associate professor and distinguished faculty fellow in international business at the Smith School of Business at Queens University. He is also the author of “Profits and Power: Navigating the Politics and Geopolitics of Oil.” First, Jackie and Peter discuss the potential impact of the Canadian government’s proposed cap on oil and gas emissions on smaller oil and gas producers. A reminder that the deadline for providing feedback on the Federal Government’s “Regulatory Framework for an Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap" is February 5th, 2024. Next, Jackie and Peter interview David about his perspectives on the politics and geopolitics of oil. Here are some of the questions they asked him: Why is the expanding conflict in the Middle East having little impact on oil prices? Do you expect additional sanctions on Iran? Will the United States continue to protect the Middle East and critical waterways despite having less dependency on the region’s oil versus the past? Describe the United States and Saudi Arabian relationship and how it has been changing. How would you describe Donald Trump’s energy policy from 2017 to 2021? How should we think about the geopolitics of oil from a Canadian perspective? How can Canada balance climate goals with producing gas and oil?   Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/  Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas Podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify 
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Jan 23, 2024 • 42min

The Green Heat Debate: Insights from FortisBC CEO Roger Dall’Antonia

This week, our guest is Roger Dall’Antonia, President and CEO of FortisBC.  FortisBC is a leading energy provider in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The utility serves about 1.1 million natural gas customers and 185,000 electricity customers. Roger explains the benefits of using natural gas to meet the peak winter heating demand and the challenges of using electricity to do the same. Because of the unique ability of gaseous fuels to flex up and meet demand, even on the coldest days, Roger sees a long-term future for gas. He explains how natural gas can become cleaner over time through a broad set of measures, such as increasing the amount of renewable natural gas (RNG) and clean hydrogen and efficiency measures that use less natural gas.  Here are some of the questions that Peter and Jackie asked Roger: What is the outlook for the supply and demand of electricity in BC? How will Site C hydroelectric demand change the market? Is BC too reliant on hydro, considering concerns around drought? Why has BC recently decided to launch a call for renewable power from large-scale wind and solar farms? What is RNG and how much potential supply is there? How are you involving Indigenous partners in your projects? What are your thoughts on the Clean Electricity Regulations targeting net zero electricity by 2035? Considering Atlantic Canada’s exception from the retail carbon tax for heating oil, could this be the beginning of the end for the retail carbon tax in Canada?  Other content referenced in this podcast:  Other content referenced in this podcast:  The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)’s Data Centre FortisBC’s Clean Growth Pathway to 2050 BC Renewable and Low-Carbon Gas Supply Potential Study Pathways for British Columbia to Achieve its GHG Reduction Goals  Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/  Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas Podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify 
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Jan 16, 2024 • 40min

Weathering the Storm: Alberta’s Grid Alerts and 2024 Energy Themes

Peter and Jackie start the year by reviewing the extreme cold in Alberta that caused a spike in electricity demand, resulting in the Alberta Electricity System Operator (AESO) issuing four grid alerts between January 12th and 15th. The electricity supply-demand balance was the tightest on Saturday evening (January 13th), causing the Alberta Government to issue an emergency alert to people's mobile phones. About 200 MW of demand fell off the system within minutes of issuing the notice.  Peter and Jackie also discuss other storms brewing on the horizon and introduce the 2024 energy themes to watch along with some predictions. Here are the energy-related topics they will be closely following: The US Election Canadian Politics and Energy Policy  Interest Rates Military Conflicts and the Risk of Oil Supply Outages  Oil and Gas Markets Climate Change Policy Nuclear Power Electric Vehicle Adoption Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Energy Clean Energy Investing Oil and Gas Mergers and Acquisitions  Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/Check us out on social media:X (Twitter): @arcenergyinstLinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research InstituteSubscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicSpotify
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Dec 19, 2023 • 39min

Looking Back on the Key Energy Themes of 2023

On this week’s podcast, Jackie and Peter review the final takeaways from COP28. Next, they discuss the key energy themes that shaped the past year.  The 2023 top themes include:1)  Artificial intelligence (AI) becomes mainstream2)  Investors now understand the clean energy interest rate nexus3)  2023 will be the hottest year on record 4)  Affordability issues slow the uptake of clean energy technologies5)  Policy-driven energy transition led by the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)6)  Oil and gas markets shrug off geopolitical risk7)  Big year for Canadian policy development – some opportunity and some frustration8)  Canada has two CCS wins in 2023 – Air Liquide Net Zero Hydrogen/Imperial Renewable Fuels and Dow Chemical’s Zero Emissions Ethylene Cracker9)  IEA appears to switch into climate advocacy mode  Content referenced in this podcast:  · December 13, 2023 UN COP28 Global Stocktake· December 6, 2023 CNN “2023 will officially be the hottest year on record, scientists report” · December 15, 2023 The Hill “NOAA: Almost 100 percent chance 2023 will be the hottest year recorded” Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/Check us out on social media:X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research InstituteSubscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify
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Dec 12, 2023 • 41min

Climate Headlines: COP28, Oil & Gas Emissions Cap, and the Clean Hydrogen Water Nexus

Peter and Jackie start this week's podcast by discussing the latest developments at COP28 in Dubai, including whether the wording “phase-out” or “phase-down” of fossil fuels will be included in the final text.Next, they talk about the Canadian energy policy announced by the Canadian federal government at COP28, including draft legislation to reduce methane from oil and gas by 75% from 2012 levels by 2030.  The government also issued a document on the proposed cap on oil and gas emissions, with a deadline to submit feedback by February 5, 2024, draft legislation by 2024, and final regulations in 2025.Lastly, Kim Sturgess, CEO of WaterSMART Solutions, joins the podcast. WaterSMART Solutions is a leading consultancy for water management solutions.  With funding and support from Alberta Innovates, ATCO, Capital Power, Hydrogen Naturally, Kiwetinohk Energy Corporation, and the Municipal District of Greenview, the consultancy published a study titled “Water Impacts from Hydrogen Development in Alberta in 2023.”  Kim explains that water is consumed to make clean, blue, and green hydrogen and that the water source must be considered early in project planning. The report demonstrates that the full development of the hydrogen sector within Alberta is likely to both cause water supply challenges and be limited by water availability.Other content referenced in this podcast:- Draft legislation for the reduction of Canada’s oil and gas methane emissions by 75% by 2030 (versus a 2012 baseline)- Regulatory framework for an oil and gas sector greenhouse gas emissions cap (for feedback by February 5, 2024) - WaterSMART Study of Water Impacts of Hydrogen Development in Alberta, 2023- WaterSMART Infographic: Water for Alberta’s Hydrogen Economy, 2023Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/Check us out on social media:X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research InstituteSubscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify
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Dec 5, 2023 • 36min

The Six Nations of Grand River Development Corporation’s Mission to Provide Economic Self-Sufficiency

This week, our guest is Matt Jamieson, President and CEO of the Six Nations of Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC). SNGRDC’s mission is to achieve economic self-sufficiency for their community by 2030. The Six Nations of the Grand River is located near Toronto and is Canada's most populated First Nation, with just over 30,000 members.  The Nation has established the Six Nations of Grand River Development Corporation, which has a separate governance and decision-making structure from the Nation’s political decision-making structure.  The corporation has become an equity partner in a variety of renewable energy projects, including transmission, wind, solar, and battery storage. The corporation has ambitious goals for delivering economic benefits to the community, targeting $150 million annually by 2030 in direct economic impact to the Nation.   Here are some of the questions Peter and Jackie asked Matt Jamieson: Why was a separate governance structure used for the corporation? What types of projects are you involved in?  How did you finance your equity share in these projects with your partners? Tell us about the Niagara Reinforcement Line and the Oneida Energy Storage Project? How has consultation with Indigenous communities on these types of projects changed over the past decade? What are your thoughts on the Fall Economic Statement that the Liberal government could introduce a multibillion-dollar loan program to help Indigenous groups in Canada buy equity in resource projects? What is your advice to Indigenous communities and companies who want to work with them on how to get started? Other content referenced in this podcast: Six Nations of Grand River Development Corporation Website  Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/  Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas Podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify 
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Nov 28, 2023 • 36min

Counterproductive Sustainable Investing: Is Brown the New Green?

This week, Kelly Shue, Professor of Finance at Yale School of Management, joins the podcast.  Earlier this year, Professor Shue and her co-author, Professor Samuel M. Hartzmark, published “Counterproductive Sustainable Investing: The Impact Elasticity of Brown and Green Firms.”  Their research paper concludes that the sustainable investing practice of divesting high-emitting companies (referred to as “brown” firms) in favor of low-emitting companies (referred to as “green” firms) is counterproductive to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Here are some of the questions that Peter and Jackie ask Professor Shue: Why did you conclude that the sustainable investing practice of divesting away from high-carbon companies towards low-carbon ones is counterproductive? What are some examples of “brown” and “green” companies?  What are the shortcomings of measuring the percentage GHG emission reduction of a company, as opposed to absolute reductions? Were you surprised to learn that oil, gas, and energy-producing firms are key innovators in the United States’ green patent landscape? What are your thoughts on the anti-ESG movement, where some US states are asking their pension funds to divest ESG-orientated companies? Do you think institutional investors, who have made hard goals around reducing their financed emissions, should consider changing these goals? What are the shortcomings in using the company-level ESG ratings provided by firms such as Sustainalytics, MSCI, and Bloomberg to identify green companies?Other content referenced in this podcast:-   Counterproductive Sustainable Investing: The Impact Elasticity of Brown and Green Firms (2023) -  The ESG-Innovation Disconnect: Evidence from Green Patenting (2021) -  Yale Insights: Green Investing Could Push Polluters to Emit More Greenhouse Gases (2023) Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/Check us out on social media:X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research InstituteSubscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify
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Nov 21, 2023 • 37min

Solar Manufacturing: The Problem with Canadian Competitiveness

This week, our guest is Paolo Maccario, President and CEO of Silfab Solar. Silfab Solar is a Canadian company headquartered in Mississauga that manufactures solar panels in Ontario, Washington State, and South Carolina.  The South Carolina facility will manufacture solar panels and cells with operations expected to be online in the third quarter of 2024.  Cells are a critical input to making modules, and the South Carolina facility will be the first of its kind in North America. Paolo explains that with the significant incentives offered in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Canada is unable to compete with the United States to attract investment in solar panel manufacturing facilities. Here are some of the questions that Peter and Jackie ask Paolo: Why have the share prices for publicly traded solar manufacturing companies fallen this year?  How has solar panel pricing changed in the past year? Have the US tariffs on Chinese panels resulted in a boost for US domestic manufacturing?  How impactful are the IRA incentives for solar manufacturing, both the production tax credit (PTC) and the investment tax credit (ITC)? How do the incentives in Canada compare with the United States?  What is the efficiency of solar panels today, and is there room for improvement?  How can manufacturers keep up with the rapid pace of technical innovation?  What is the state of solar panel recycling?  The Canadian government has offered more generous incentives for producing lithium-ion batteries, how do the jobs for manufacturing batteries compare with solar panels?  Other content referenced in this podcast: Silfab Solar Sustainability Impact Report ARC Financial Sustainability Report  Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/  Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas Podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify
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Nov 14, 2023 • 39min

Canada Energy Regulator’s Chief Economist: What Could Canada’s Energy Future Look Like?

This week, Jean-Denis Charlebois joins the podcast. Jean-Denis is the Chief Economist at the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).  The CER released a report in June outlining three potential future energy scenarios, titled “Canada’s Energy Future 2023: Energy Supply and Demand Projections to 2050.”  Here are some of the questions Peter and Jackie asked Jean-Denis: Why did the CER publish net-zero scenarios for the first time in this recent edition? Are you concerned about how these scenarios are implicitly being used as predictions by politicians or other commentators on energy in Canada?  How much does Canadian electricity consumption increase in the CER scenarios? What is the potential market share for heat pumps? How does the mix of power generation change?  What is the future cost of carbon? Canada’s oil production is assumed to decline significantly in the net-zero scenarios; however, could supply be more resilient considering Canada's advantages as a stable, secure, and low-carbon supplier? What energy-focused capital spending is required for the Canadian net-zero scenarios, and how does that compare with history?  Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/  Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas Podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify  
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Nov 7, 2023 • 33min

In the News: Geopolitics, Canada’s Carbon Tax and Clean Energy Stocks

This week, Peter and Jackie discuss recent news headlines, including some scary topics on this Halloween podcast recording. Here are some of the topics they discussed:· Rising geopolitical risks.  Why are the oil markets calm in the face of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the potential for an oil outage? · ExxonMobil and Chevron announce significant acquisitions.  In contrast to the news headlines, Peter and Jackie argue that these acquisitions could make sense, even in the scenario that oil and gas demand declines.  · Clean energy stocks tumble.  Clean energy indexes like the WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) are down about 35 percent since the summer. Why are stocks down, and what are the likely implications?· Canada announces a three-year pause in the carbon tax for heating oil to help with affordability.  Yet, other sources of heating in the country do not get a break.  Jackie and Peter discuss the outrage in areas of the country that do not depend on heating oil for heat, as well as other possible implications.Other content referenced in this podcast:· Thunder Said Energy: War and commodities: how do conflicts impact prices? October 12, 2023· The Clean Investment Monitor: Tracking Decarbonization Technology in the United States, Rhodium Group, MIT, CEEPR, September 2023· Prime Minister of Canada Office (PMO) announcement “Delivering support for Canadians on energy bills,” October 26, 2023Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/Check us out on social media:X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research InstituteSubscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify

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