Our inaugural post last Thursday explained what this blog hopes to achieve: to give our region a window into important conversations happening outside the tri-county region and to highlight our local clean energy and economic story.
Last week, we highlighted that the region is now home to a hydrogen company, that our region’s youth have a lot to be excited about as we move forward, and that energy affordability will be a key factor in a clean energy transition.
This week’s three thoughts build on our region’s momentum, highlight even more local connections that we are making through the Clean Energy Frontier program, and give a look into a conversation around “building back better” and what that slogan means for our region.
Let’s get right to it…
1. Bruce Power celebrates successful first year of their Major Component Replacement Project
This week, our region’s largest employer celebrated a project that will extend the life of its operations by several decades. The Major Component Replacement Project (MCR) is Canada’s largest clean energy project and is of vital significance to the Bruce, Grey, Huron region and to our province.
The celebration this week focused on the fact that the project remains on track and on budget despite facing the complications that stem from engaging in a project of this magnitude in a global pandemic.
The project has required a collective effort from Bruce Power employees, the dedicated nuclear supply chain—of which many companies have local operations in the region—and community support. This project cannot be understated. The economic and environmental benefits that we will see by extending the life of Bruce Power are massive.
Let’s continue to celebrate this project in the weeks ahead and wish Bruce Power continued success! You can watch the celebration event here.
2. Celebrating Canadian Ag Day!
1,455… 1,450… 2,000. That’s how many farming families are represented by the Bruce, Grey, and Huron federations of agriculture, respectively. With a grand total reaching nearly 5,000 farming operations across the region, you could say that we know a thing or two about agriculture here in the Clean Energy Frontier.
We know that our farmers are innovators, they always have been. And I don’t think that they’ve gotten their fair share of credit for their innovative spirit.
At the Clean Energy Frontier program, we are connecting a clean energy future with our ag sector. The more we engage in these conversations, the more excited all sides get.
From agricultural end-uses for hydrogen, to carbon sequestration, to soil regeneration and more, there is a lot to be excited about and the Bruce, Grey, Huron region is poised to be a provincial, national and even global leader in this fight.
Thank you to all of our hardworking farmers! The future is incredibly bright.
3. ‘Building Back Better’: What does it mean? Why should we care?
How many times have you heard that as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19, we need to ‘build back better’? It’s practically a cliché by now. But it carries some weight and it will in fact have tangible impacts on our lives moving forward. And, the good news for the Bruce, Grey, Huron region is that a lot of the initiatives that we’ll need fall right into our wheelhouse.
This week I listened to an Empire Club of Canada discussion with the Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Mr. Angel Gurria. In the discussion, Secretary Gurria discussed the notion of building back better and tied that notion fundamentally to three key goals for a better economy. He stated the economy needs to be “greener, healthier, and more inclusive.”
Why is this good news for Bruce, Grey and Huron? Well, we’re a powerhouse in the clean energy industry. We contribute massively to a green grid in Ontario, have a strong network of expertise in clean energy with 60+ supply chain companies operating locally, and we are leading the way on initiatives like hydrogen and more. And, our farmers produce high-quality, healthy food that feeds hundreds of thousands around the globe.
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: ‘building back better’ is synonymous with ‘building back like Bruce, Grey, Huron.’
--Chad Richards is the Director of the Clean Energy Frontier.