Alberta conference on energy literacy

How energy literate are Albertans? What causes Albertans to lose interest or ability to become aware of energy issues? How important is energy literacy in Alberta?

Last week, over 125 participants from government, industry, community, environment and education organizations got together to discuss just that. Between February 4 and 6, the Centre for Environment-Economy Learning hosted the Alberta Conference on Energy Literacy, which explored energy literacy in Alberta, examined some of the barriers to energy literacy and generated solutions to impeding factors that stand in the way of understanding the greater energy picture in Alberta. 

The event, which was sponsored, in part, by the Canadian Centre for Energy Information, featured more than a dozen speakers followed by group discussions in which participants collaborated to identify specific challenges and suggestions to advance overall energy awareness among Albertans. Participants were given the opportunity to share their ideas with a panel of energy leaders in the province including Deputy Minister Peter Watson, Alberta Energy; Assistant Deputy Minister Bev Yee, Alberta Environment; VP Richard Dunn, EnCana and CEO David Erickson, AESO. In turn, the panel listened to participant’s suggestions and offered their own reactions. 

Peter Watson agreed that energy literacy must be an integral part of moving the Provincial Energy Strategy forward; he cautioned that the approach that is taken must be well planned and multi-sectoral saying, ”go slow now so that we can move quickly in the future.” He committed the Government of Alberta through Alberta Energy to support the planning process and it is anticipated that a working team will be named in the near future.