By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

energy transition

Innisfail to host 2022/23 Energy Futures Roadshow workshops

Jul 15, 2022 | 9:36 AM

The Town of Innisfail has been selected as sole host of the 2022/23 Energy Futures Roadshow program.

This means a series of public workshops will be delivered in Innisfail, in partnership with the Energy Futures Lab. As sole host, the series will be known as the Innisfail Energy Hub for the next year.

The workshops are for anyone and everyone, and focus on creating a prosperous future for the region as the energy transition unfolds.

“In past years, the Energy Futures Lab roadshows were held in multiple communities across Alberta and have seeded exceptional grassroots initiatives,” a Town release says. “In the new partnership model, the Energy Futures Lab is offering the opportunity to work closely with a single municipality for one year. This is particularly exciting as it will allow for additional support and facilitation of the community projects arising from the Innisfail Energy Hub.”

The Town formally committed to reducing energy consumption and its ecological footprint when council was presented the 2022 Energy Policy Document on May 9. The Town commits to this through increasing education, awareness and understanding of energy management.

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According to the Town, the formation of the Innisfail Energy Hub is a step toward diversification, which will encourage community dialogue around energy issues.

“The Town of Innisfail and the Energy Futures Lab share a number of core values. In working with communities across Alberta, the Energy Futures Lab is dedicated to an inclusive and equitable transition to a prosperous net-zero future that leaves no one behind,” says the municipality.

“The Town’s mission to create ‘an inclusive, entrepreneurial and beautiful community with a connection to the region and each other’ is closely aligned with the objectives of the community roadshows, which are made possible with funding from the Government of Canada.”

Meantime, Mayor Jean Barclay says people can rest assured that talking about future energy and energy transition doesn’t mean it’s a simple black-and-white scenario, where there’s either oil or no oil.

“I don’t necessarily think the elimination of oil is what ‘energy transition’ means. Energy is energy. It’s not the end of oil and gas, but rather perhaps that technology is helping oil and gas be produced with less emissions,” says Barclay.

“There are lots of brilliant people in this province figuring that out, and there are lots of other forms of energy, be it hydrogen, solar or wind. We can see what was built out here 40+ years ago with the oil sands; the innovators will always figure things out, and economics and innovation will drive the energy business forward.”

Barclay points to Innisfail being home to Alberta’s first urban land solar farm, its efforts to reduce energy use in municipal facilities, and inclusion of stakeholders in energy-related projects as examples of how Innisfail is leading in this area.

The first workshop is happening mid-September with more details to come from the Town on their website and social media channels.