The purpose of this paper is to serve as an instrument of discussion to advance the dialogue on how and under what conditions we can responsibly develop our natural resources. The paper aims to pose the question: is there a satisfactory way to develop our natural resources to attract investment and generate wealth to contribute to our province’s essential social programs. The interconnection between our natural resources and our economy is explored. The Centre firmly believes we can have both the economic development we need to sustain our economy while at the same time protecting our environment and the concerns of our citizens.
The social license to operate becomes as important as the physical permits required by government. New and progressive societal partnerships are required in order to find ways that both protect our environment and strengthen our economy. Seeking and earning a social license to operate is vital to the success of a jurisdiction's resource sector. Industry and community partners need to develop this social contract together to ensure sustainable progress.
Atlantica Centre for Energy Paper – Analyses Regional Impacts of Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Project
The Atlantic Centre for Energy is pleased to release the attached discussion paper that aims to analyze the impacts that the project is apt to have throughout the Atlantic Region and beyond. The paper provides an overview of the project and its enabling transmission infrastructure. The paper describes individual jurisdictional impacts for Novas Scotia, Newfoundland and the extended region. - June 29, 2011
Resetting the Natural Gas Distribution System in New Brunswick: Economic Development & the Public Interest
The Atlantica Centre for Energy’s objective in producing this mini-paper is to provide the greater policy community with an instrument of information to advance the dialogue with New Brunswick’s troubled natural gas distribution system. Principally, the Centre believes that New Brunswick’s public interest is best served when natural gas provides the greatest benefits to the widest base of people in the province. A slow-paced rollout of residential gas infrastructure and a primary focus on the economic development potential from gas is in the best interest of New Brunswickers. The Centre also believes that further professionalizing and resourcing the New Brunswick Energy and Utility Board is vital to ensure confidence in the province’s energy regulatory regime.
Atlantica Centre for Energy: Response to the NB Energy Commission's Public Feed Back Document
The Atlantica Centre for Energy response to the New Brunswick Energy commission's Public Feedback Document. ACfE submission to NB Energy Commission February 16, 2011. more
Atlantica Centre for Energy: Releases Shale Gas Paper - Adopting Best Practices
The Atlantica Centre for Energy discussion paper on Considerations for Reponsible Gas Development of the Frederick Brook Shale in New Brunswick was released March 25, 2011. The purpose of the paper is to serve as an instrumnet to inform the dialogue in the Province of New Brunswick on the potential development and opportunities of a shale gas industry. The paper identifies a series of best regulatory practices and royalty regimes for the responsible development of the sector.
Advancing the Energy Dialogue
On June 23, 2010 the Atlantica Centre for Energy shared a set of discussion papers with key industry, government and community stakeholders during its meeting of the Centre’s Board of Directors. The Centre which serves as the principal meeting ground for energy stakeholders in the broader region prepared the set of papers aimed to further advance the energy dialogue in the region.
The five papers aim to outline many of the challenges and opportunities in our regional energy sector and present options for stakeholders and policy makers to consider. The following links provide the contents for each of the respective papers
- Advancing the Energy Dialogue: Powering Economic Development in New Brunswick
- Electricity: A Regional Vision for Sustainability
- Natural Gas: Achieving the Full Potential
- Smart Energy: Renewables and New Technologies
- Energy: A Regional Opportunity
Workforce Expansion & The Labour Supply Challenge
The purpose of this discussion paper has been to share why our region is uniquely positioned to serve as the Energy Hub for the International Northeast, with is diverse mix of energy related assets, while at the same time the papers key object is to build awareness that unless project proponents, governments and the community begin to take meaningful action now, the labour supply challenge is potentially a crisis “on our doorstep” that could detrimentally affect the major Energy Hub projects. Read more...
Atlantica Centre for Energy Response to Discussion Paper on NB’s Tax System
The Province of New Brunswick has extended an open invitation for residents and stakeholders to consider a suite of options that the Department of Finance has compiled within its release of A Discussion Paper on New Brunswick’s Tax System. The province states that it is considering restructuring the tax system with the stated objective to “leave more hard-earned dollars in the pockets of New Brunswickers, attract investment and encourage job creation.” The Atlantica Centre for Energy welcomes this debate and the opportunity to comment as the province considers “a careful restructuring of the provincial tax system”. The Centre’s response addresses both the goals and principles of the restructuring, as well as specific changes outlined in the discussion paper. Read more...
The Energy Sector - An Investment in the People and Communities of Atlantic Canada
Our region has one of the most diverse mixes of energy in North America and we stand on the threshold of a market that is 14 times larger than we have in our four provinces. The energy sector will lead Atlantic Canada in opening new markets, developing new technologies, and welcoming new people to the region. It is an investment in our communities and our people that will pay dividends for years to come. Read more…
Recommendations for Mutual Engagement – Tim Curry
There’s a lot at stake when an energy project comes to town. Citizens of host communities will want to know how these new developments will impact – both positively and negatively – their quality of life and the surrounding environment. This paper provides a framework for how citizens and company officials may engage in a meaningful conversation to determine whether proposed energy projects can become positive additions to the community. Read more…
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UNBSJ/ACFE Speaker Series
Johanne Gélinas
Partner, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
Deloitte
BEYOND CLIMATE CHANGE
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ...THE IRREVERSIBLE CHANGE
Speaker Profile
Johanne Gélinas, a partner at Deloitte, leads the Montreal office’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Group. This group helps Canadian businesses adopt a proactive approach to managing environment and sustainability issues.
Click the link to see the presentation
Growing the Energy Hub - the New Brunswick System Operator - its Mission and Vision
A presentation by Sylvain Gignac, President and CEO of the New Brunswick System Operator. Event hosted January 28th, 2009 at the UNBSJ Grand Hall. Mr Gignac shared his vision for the NBSO, identifying the opportunities and challenges for increasing regional cooperation throughout New England and Atlantic Canada. Click here for his presentation
Shaping California's Energy Future – Protecting the Economy and Environment – Terrence O'Brien
This presentation provides an environmental and economic assessment of California’s energy future, examining opportunities to reduce the state’s carbon footprint and maximize the economic benefits of energy efficiency. Read more…
Energy Policies for the 21st Century: Is Past Prologue or Poison? – Robert Skinner
Addressing climate change is an energy policy challenge and Canada has a wealth of experience to learn from, not necessarily all encouraging. The question is, ‘Will our political leaders innovate or will they continue to cater to the easy and time-worn palliative of writing cheques?’ This speech examines features of the global energy picture and looks at the energy landscape our governments confront in addressing climate change as it has become a proxy for energy policy. Read more…
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Speech Transcriptions
LNG and Atlantic Canada’s Opportunity – Angela Tu Weissenberger
Atlantic Canada is about to realize a huge opportunity to be one of the first to capture the growing North American LNG market. This speech highlights the economic benefits associated with this project for both the city of Saint John and Atlantic Canada as a whole and outlines steps that Atlantic Canadians can take to maximize these benefits. Read more…
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Atlantica Centre for Energy: Releases Shale Gas Paper - Adopting Best Practices
The Atlantica Centre for Energy discussion paper on Considerations for Reponsible Gas Development of the Frederick Brook Shale in New Brunswick was released March 25, 2011. The purpose of the paper is to serve as an instrumnet to inform the dialogue in the Province of New Brunswick on the potential development and opportunities of a shale gas industry. The paper identifies a series of best regulatory practices and royalty regimes for the responsible development of the sector.
