Commentary

The Big Debate: Should nuclear energy be part of a Green New Deal?

Jessica Strickler [AE4H] — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 01:31:15 -0400

We must reduce the burning of fossil fuels to save our planet — but should nuclear energy be part of the solution? Prof. Jatin Nathwani argues yes while Prof. M.V. Ramana and Schyler Edmunston argue no.

“Truth is the daughter of time,” Francis Bacon noted four centuries ago. Perhaps the time has come to acknowledge the near existential threat posed…

International Renewable Energy Agency: A Geothermal Perspective Report from the 10th Session of the Assembly

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:11:38 -0500

Download this report

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Down, but Impact on Emissions in Question: Bloomberg BNA

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 11:00:48 -0400

Source: Energy and Climate Report: News Archive > 2018 > March > 03/21/2018 > News > Climate Policy: Fossil Fuel Subsidies Down, but Impact on Emissions in Question

Climate Policy

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Down, but Impact on Emissions in Question

By Rick Mitchell

The world's biggest economies have recently reduced financial support to…

Globe & Mail Article: Pipeline rhetoric and reality: It’s time for an adult conversation

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:43:27 -0500

Neither a large dollop of self-righteous indignation wrapped around an environmental agenda nor vengeful retaliation through wine trade will get Alberta and British Columbia any closer to finding a common ground on the construction of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion. A tit-for-tat – my pristine environment versus your dirty dollars –…

How Blockchain Can Democratize Green Power

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 12:38:53 -0500

Blockchain technologies could help homeowners sell their green electricity to their neighbours. (Shutterstock)

Srinivasan Keshav, University of Waterloo

Imagine buying a solar panel from a hardware store, mounting it on your roof, then selling the green electricity you produce at a price you set.

Is this even possible? Some companies…

Economic Pressures Drive Down Oil and Gas Development Costs

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 09:00:50 -0500

The attached article is only surprising to those who do not understand the impact of technology and the pressure to be profitable. Many predicted the “End of the Shale Oil Industry” when prices dropped below $50/b. People who understand the impact of technology and the nature of the oil and gas E&P industry correctly criticized these…

Reflections on the 2016 WGSI OpenAccess Energy Summit

Jessica Strickler [AE4H] — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:12:56 -0400

The OpenAccess Energy Communique is now available as an attachment to this article.

While the summit may be ending, the work towards providing 1.1 billion people with reliable, renewable and sustainable energy is just beginning. The development of actionable policy options will be dependent on a concrete 'blueprint' from which to draw from.

…

Where to find links to documents of interest on the WISE website:

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:04:30 -0500

Our goal is to allow easy access to information of a general nature on the major issues associated with energy. From the WISE Home Page, click the Explore tab, then click the Links tab to view information about major issues associated with sustainability, energy, and hot topics.

For example, read about Shale Gas Development in the UK: we have…

The Importance of Process and Regulatory Management

Zhewen Chen — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:43:27 -0400

By Maurice B Dusseault, Earth and Environmental Sciences, U of Waterloo

Three documents are attached to these comments:

An article outlining the major issues of the Pennsylvania Auditor General's critical report and comments about the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The report of the Pennsylvania Auditor General, based…

Talk by Maurice Dusseault on fracking in the news

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:47:18 -0500

Prof. Dusseault (earth and environmental sciences) was one of two speakers at the Memorial Presents: The Facts about Fracking, An Engineering Perspective talk hosted by the Harris Centre at the Greenwood Inn and Suites in Corner Brook Thursday, Jan. 30th.

Lesley James (assistant professor, faculty of engineering and applied science at Memorial…