New energy technologies are being investigated and applied across North America's northwestern regions to broaden the emerging potential of clean coal, wind power and ocean energy.

And while delegates to the recent Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) summit held in Edmonton met to discuss a wide range of issues, energy development was on the mind of many officials from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Yukon.

"It's a great forum for discussion of issues. It's neutral ground where people can argue and still not be antagonistic," said Michal Moore, a senior fellow with the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy at the University of Calgary. "It provides for a more informed decision-making process."

PNWER is a bi-national public/private organization focusing on greater regional co-operation between northwest governments and business in order to enhance the region's global competitiveness. As part of its attempt to bolster the Pacific Northwest economy, the summit's energy stream looked at emerging technologies.

Photo courtesy of ISEEE
Michal Moore sees the PNWER meetings as a chance to provide a more informed decision-making process.

"PNWER is an excellent forum to bring energy items to the forefront," said Moore, who spoke at the conference. The group makes it easier to get all parties onside on various issues and concerns, he added, by bringing government officials together and enabling them to make the regulatory environment more consistent for players on both sides of the border.

"That's the advantage of a group like this, where common problems can not only be discussed but where they can also find solutions," added Moore.

Epcor's push into clean coal was highlighted by the company's chief executive at the four-day conference.

Don Lowry outlined how its Genesee 3 (G3) coal-fired generation facility west of Edmonton is making thermal generation "cleaner."

Co-owned by TransAlta, the facility is the first coal-fired plant in the country to feature supercritical combustion, a technology that enhances efficiency and environmental performance, Lowry said. The plant's greenhouse gas emissions are 18 per cent lower than the average Alberta coal plant, he added.

"Beyond this, as part of our operating permits, we have also committed to reducing and offsetting CO2 to the equivalent of a natural gas plant - a first in North America," he said.

But G3 is only a step forward in bringing the next generation of clean coal plants online, plants that will be needed to meet the projected demand for energy over the next 25 years.

The only other alternative that could meet those needs, Lowry said, is nuclear energy.

"Coal currently accounts for more than 50 per cent of U.S. electricity production, and taking current use rates into consideration, the U.S. has a 250-year supply," he told the conference. "In Canada, 22 per cent of our power is coal generated.

"Here in Alberta, we have 34 billion tonnes of low-sulphur coal, enough to last 1,000 years."

Despite some progress, the so-called "cleaner coal" is still years away, he added. But research has established coal gasification as the best technology for further development, and identified the key issues that must be solved for successful commercialization.

If these challenges can be met, Lowry said, this could mean electricity that's cleaner than the best natural-gas facility operating today - and may even provide a continuous and affordable source of hydrogen to power tomorrow's hybrid and electric cars.

Besides its Alberta operations, Epcor also has five power operations in B.C. as well as another in Washington state, and markets electricity and energy management products in Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

Lowry said the company tries to mitigate its risk by not forming an over-reliance on a single fuel source for power generation.

"Epcor has found it prudent to pursue a balanced strategy that encourages the sourcing of power from a mix of conventional and renewable fuels," he said. "We believe that similar strategies should be pursued at provincial, state and national levels to ensure that our economies have access to a reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible power mix."

PNWER delegates also were given a more detailed look at alternative wind power and ocean energy options.

Neil Millar, vice-president of transmission for the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), noted wind power provides about one to 1.5 per cent of the energy power in the province, with more projects expected to come online. AESO is charged with the responsibility of operating the province's power grid.

However, more work needs to be done on improving wind-forecasting capabilities so reserves can be on hand to backfill demand so customers aren't cut short, he added.

"The AESO is working with the wind industry to find ways to determine how much wind generation may be added while maintaining reliable system operation, and exploring ways to increase that amount by addressing the operating issues that are unique to the wind industry."

Harnessing power found in ocean waves and tidal flows is also drawing more interest from energy producers.

Chris Campbell, president of the B.C.-based Ocean Renewable Energy Group, expects that prototype development will continue to grow and ocean energy could eventually make a difference to markets and communities adjacent to the resource.

While Campbell told delegates that development of ocean energy is where wind technology was 20 years ago, he said he is encouraged by research in the U.S., including along North America's Pacific coastline. There is a move under way to start mapping an inventory of Canada's own wave resources, he added.

"I think PNWER has great opportunities, from Alaska to Oregon," said Campbell. "It (ocean energy) is an emerging opportunity that's very important to the region and I would ask PNWER to continue to lobby its representatives and its governments."

PNWER is planning to put together primers on clean coal, wind and ocean energy technologies to increase their profiles and educate the industry and the public.

Meanwhile, more than 500 business and political leaders from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada listened to an array of prominent speakers during the conference.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein spoke at the opening lunch, while Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff also made appearances, as did the U.S. ambassador to Canada, David Wilkins.

Day, Chertoff and the other keynote speakers talked of PNWER's ability to bridge the divide and extolled the close relationship between the two countries.

The outgoing PNWER president, U.S. State Rep. Glenn Anderson (R-WA), said he was particularly proud of the group's work on regional energy planning, infrastructure security and the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

While Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently described Canada as an emerging energy superpower, many of the conference attendees agreed that the PNWER region, with resource-rich Alaska and Alberta, could be considered a 'regional' energy superpower.

At the end of the summit, Anderson handed over the gavel to Jim Kenyon, the Yukon minister of economic development who will serve as president for 2006-2007. Next year's summit will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, July 22-26.

See also "Summit works to unlock labour solution".

(Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)