Flux Capacitor Francis Bradley

President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power, Peter Gregg, in conversation with host Francis Bradley about the evolving state of electricity in Nova Scotia. Revisiting themes they spoke about three years ago on the podcast, they discuss the decarbonization of Nova Scotia’s electricity system, the impact of federal policies, the increasing frequency and impact of extreme weather. They also focus on the province’s Clean Power Plan, the failure of the Atlantic Loop initiative and what says about complex inter-jurisdictional projects, and how reliability and affordability will be front and centre as Nova Scotia aims for an 80 per cent decarbonized grid by 2030. They close the conversation with Peter’s recommendation for an addition to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

President of ATCO Electric Melanie Bayley in conversation with host Francis Bradley about the state of the Alberta electricity market, the challenges of meeting decarbonization and electrification aspirations, the energy trilemma of balancing sustainability, reliability, and affordability, and how customers' relationship with the electricity system will change in the years ahead. But they start the conversation with a deep dive into wildfires, the complexity of response, impacts on communities, and prospects for the year ahead. They close the conversation with a couple of on-point book recommendations.

Links:

ATCO Electric: https://electric.atco.com/en-ca.html
Melanie Bayley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-bayley-a9784985/?originalSubdomain=ca

Book recommendations:
California Burning: The Fall Of Pacific Gas And Electric–And What It Means For America's Power Grid, By Katherine Blunt: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670012/california-burning-by-katherine-blunt/The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, by Amy C. Edmondson: https://www.wiley.com/en-ca/The+Fearless+Organization%3A+Creating+Psychological+Safety+in+the+Workplace+for+Learning%2C+Innovation%2C+and+Growth-p-9781119477266

RBC Senior Vice-President, John Stackhouse and Senior Manager, Clean Technology, Vivan Sorab, principal author of the report “Think Small: How Canada can make small modular reactors a priority,” in conversation with host Francis Bradley about the principal findings and recommendations of their report. The conversation includes an overview of SMR technology, the state of progress in their deployment, and likely applications in Canada. They also discuss the path ahead, including the needed investments, Indigenous partnerships and social license, as well as an indication of issues the Institute is currently addressing. They close the conversation with Vivan and John’s recommendations for additions to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Links:
RBC report “Think Small:: How Canada can make small modular nuclear reactors a priority”: https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/wp-content/uploads/Think-Small-SMR-Report-EN-1.pdf

RBC Climate Action 2024 report, “Double or Trouble”: https://www.rbc.com/climate-action-institute/climate-action-24/index.html

Johns Stackhouse at RBC: https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-ca/people/john-stackhouse
on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stackhouse-a113419/

Vivan Sorab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivan-sorab-4a503623/
Book recommendations:
The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations, by Daniel Yergin: https://www.danielyergin.com/books/thenewmap

Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization, by Ed Conway: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125937631-material-world

Altalink President and CEO Gary Hart in conversation with host Francis Bradley about the energy transition from the perspective of a transmission company. The conversation includes a bit of a deep dive into the impact of wildfires, and what is being done to prevent and/or limit their impact. Gary also talks about the energy transition, the challenges of decarbonization, the future energy mix in Alberta, affordability for customers, and how supply chain challenges are not likely to disappear anytime soon. They close the conversation with Gary’s recommendation for an addition to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Links:

Altalink: https://www.altalink.ca/

Altalink’s management Team: https://www.altalink.ca/governance/leadership/

Gary Hart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garylhart/

Book recommendations:
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, by Bill Gates: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52908942-how-to-avoid-a-climate-disaster

GE Vernova Canada President and President of Global Growth Markets at GE Vernova Heather Chalmers is in conversation with host Francis Bradley about this new company, her role in Canada and in global growth markets, technology ambition, the need for governments and stakeholders to align in order to meet sustainability goals, and her take on the Government of Canada’s draft Clean Electricity Regulations. Heather also talks about the criticality of Indigenous reconciliation, the challenges of supply chains and ensuring we have the people to build our energy future. They close the conversation with two timely recommendations for additions to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Links:

GE Vernova: https://www.gevernova.com/

Heather Chalmers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-chalmers/?originalSubdomain=ca

Book recommendations:
How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between, by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61327449-how-big-things-get-done

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, by Bob Joseph: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38620150-21-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-indian-act

Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator President and CEO, Lesley Gallinger, is in conversation with host Francis Bradley about the challenges the system faces in the transition to a decarbonized future. They discuss the role of the IESO, rising electricity demand, resource adequacy, and the importance of engagement with Indigenous Peoples and communities. Lesley shares some perspectives on the work of the Canadian Electricity Advisory Council and some of the factors that will impact the timing of Ontario meeting its decarbonization ambitions. The conversation closes with two excellent recommendations for additions to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Links:

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO): https://ieso.ca/

Lesley Gallinger at the IESO: https://ieso.ca/Corporate-IESO/Leadership/Executive-Team

Lesley Gallinger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-gallinger-784a194/?originalSubdomain=ca

IESO’s Pathways to Decarbonization report: https://www.ieso.ca/en/Learn/The-Evolving-Grid/Pathways-to-Decarbonization

The Canadian Electricity Advisory Council: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/energy-sources-distribution/electricity-infrastructure/the-canada-electricity-advisory-council/25297

Book recommendations:
My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future,by Indra Nooyi: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57499853-my-life-in-full

Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples, by Bob Joseph and Cynthia F. Joseph:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36988156-working-effectively-with-indigenous-peoples?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ngI9EMHqcd&rank=1