Why geothermal?
Geothermal energy is an internationally recognized clean, sustainable and renewable source of affordable heat and power. It is obtained by pulling hot water from deep below the earth’s surface and running it through a turbine to produce electricity with low or no emissions. After the hot water is used to make clean electricity, and before the water is reinjected, the remaining heat can be used for a variety of commercial, industrial, or entrepreneurial endeavours, including fish farming, greenhouse heating, district heating, pasteurization, material drying and snow melting. The experience of countries around the world shows us the great potential of geothermal heat and power. With legislative and regulatory support, we can harness the potential of geothermal here in Canada, and use it to create reliable green energy, jobs, and economic prosperity.
Send this letter to your MP and MLA:
Dear Elected Official,
As a voter in your constituency, I’m contacting you to let you know about Canada’s Geothermal potential, and to advocate for its use. Geothermal energy is the Earth’s own internal heat, and is incredibly versatile. Some examples of its uses include: greenhouse agriculture, refrigeration, space heating, tourism, and electrical generation. While particularly visible in the western provinces, geothermal resources are found throughout all of Canada. With this renewable form of energy, we can use Canadian expertise in sub-surface resource development to create sustainable and permanent jobs.
There is now a critical opportunity to expand our country’s green energy and economic growth. More action is needed to help level the playing field for geothermal developers, above and beyond the steps already taken in Budget 2017 & 2018.
In addition to the changes needed on the Federal level, the Provinces and Territories can play an important role in helping to level the playing field for the geothermal industry. Local geothermal developers are in need of a more robust Provincial regulatory framework, as well as direct support matching that which other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar receive. I strongly encourage Provincial or Territorial representatives reading this letter to contact the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) for further details on the specific policy needs of geothermal developers in your area.
In 2016, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance “Creating the Conditions for Economic Growth: Tools for People, Businesses, and Communities” stated that;
“Because Canada is part of a global community that is focused on protecting the environment and addressing climate change, the Committee recommends…[t]hat the Government of Canada take action to support and encourage Canada’s geothermal sector.”
Geothermal developers can become full and effective players in Canada’s renewable energy future, if the right changes are made.
As part of our 2019 Federal Pre-Budget Consultation, CanGEA has identified the following points as key ways to support geothermal development in Canada:
- 1. The Government of Canada should allocate funding for the continued development of geothermal data collection through the support of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) and Natural Resources Canada. With this funding, the GSC could conduct or provide funding streams for feasibility studies in the remaining provinces and territories as well as host a publicly accessible geothermal database. Increased available energy data and a government branch with a mandate to support would encourage further investment and development, thereby increasing competition within the Canadian geothermal energy market.
- 2. The Government of Canada should create a stream of funding specifically for geothermal projects. Geothermal energy is widely undervalued in Canada because of the lack of a precedent. Without fair access to opportunity, geothermal development has stagnated and investment has migrated to other markets. Creating a stream of funding specifically for geothermal energy projects would allow for geothermal projects, which are inherently different than other renewables, to compete amongst each other for funding rather than with other technologies that are already proven in Canada.
- 3. The Government of Canada should provide funding for federal geothermal heat programs. There are currently several geothermal heating projects moving forward in Canada; though a few of these projects have received federal funding, there is no clear path forward for geothermal heating projects, as they do not fall under the power generation umbrella. Creating a geothermal heating specific stream or including geothermal heating within the scope of existing streams would promote further investigation and development of geothermal heating projects in Canada.
- 4. The Government of Canada should allocate funding for programs to raise public awareness surrounding geothermal energy. CanGEA recommends that the Federal Government allocate funding for geothermal energy public information campaigns and information sessions. More specifically, CanGEA would like to expand on our planned educational campaign for Western Canada to further promote the benefits and potential applications for geothermal energy throughout all of Canada.
These 4 recommendations would help promote the development of clean, reliable, and affordable geothermal energy development in Canada. Climate change mitigation and clean growth are both better served by increased government support for geothermal heat and power.
When the opportunity comes for you to comment on programs and regulations, in provincial or territorial legislatures, and particularly as the 2019 Federal Budget is drafted, I ask that you support geothermal by making sure the recommendations written above are present so that Canada can be a richer, more sustainable place.
Your information
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