ARC ENERGY IDEAS – Details, episodes & analysis

This week on the podcast, our guest is Jason Chee-Aloy, Managing Director at Power Advisory LLC. The firm provides expert consulting services in the electricity sector across Canada and the United States. 

A new report from CanREA and Dunsky forecasts a rapid build-out of new electricity generation across the country. With this growth forecast in mind, Jason shares his insights on several major new electricity generation projects shaping Canada’s power landscape — including the planned hydropower dam expansion along the Churchill River by Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Jason, Jackie, and Peter also discussed the proposed Wind West project in Nova Scotia, where the province estimates its offshore wind potential could exceed 60 GW of capacity, with up to 40 GW of dependable output.  

In addition, Jason provides an update on Alberta’s ongoing electricity market redesign — the Alberta Restructured Energy Market (REM) — following the release of the Final Design document from the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) in August. 

Content referenced in this podcast:  

• Canada’s Renewable Energy Outlook 2025 by CanREA and Dunsky  
• Wind West Plan by the Nova Scotia Government  
• Alberta Electricity System Operator (AESO) Restructure Energy Market Final Design (August 2025) 
• Alberta Electricity System Operator “MPA Independent Assessment of the REM Design” (August 2025)

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This week on the podcast, Jackie and Peter begin with a roundup of the latest developments in Canadian energy. They start by discussing Prime Minister Carney’s remarks at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, where he suggested that Canada could export up to 50 million tonnes of LNG per year (about 6.5 Bcf/d) by 2030, with the potential to double that by 2040. 

They then turn to the upcoming federal budget, which is expected to include details about Canada’s Climate Competitiveness Plan. Another key topic is President Trump’s decision to suspend trade talks with Canada following controversy over Ontario’s free-trade advertisement. 

Next, the hosts reflect on Peter’s recent commentary in The Hub, titled “Even if Alberta gets a new pipeline, what’s next for the oilsands?” 

Finally, Jackie talks about her recent appearance on a CBC podcast that explored whether Canada can build pipelines while fighting climate change. She explains why she felt the show’s coverage was not balanced and shares her broader concerns about how climate and energy topics are often framed in mainstream Canadian media.

Content referenced in this podcast: 

• The Globe and Mail, “Carney’s climate vision is to deprioritize emissions targets, focus on economic advantages” (October 14, 2025) 
• The Hub “Peter Tertzakian: Even if Alberta gets a new pipeline, what’s next for the oilsands?” (October 4, 2025) 
• CAPP Data Centre, “The Economic Impact of Canadian Oil and Gas,” see slide 23 titled “Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Industry | 2024” 
• Government of Canada Publications, “Public Opinion Research on the National Adaptation Strategy,” (March 2025), see page 6: “A vast majority of people living in Canada (84%) consider climate change an important issue” 
• Angus Reid Institute, “Pipeline Push: Majority of Canadians, including BC Residents support the idea of a pipeline to the north coast” (October 9, 2025) 
• CBC Ideas Podcast “Can we have new pipelines and curb climate change too?” October 7, 2025

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The President of the United States signed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” into law on July 4th. The new legislation brings big changes to the future of U.S. clean energy development. It reduces many (though not all) of the Biden-era subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). 

This week on the podcast, our guest is Mike Carr, Executive Director at SEMA Coalition—an organization supporting the U.S.-based solar supply chain. Mike has extensive experience in U.S. federal energy policy, including past positions at the Department of Energy and the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy. 

Jackie and Peter asked Mike: How would you characterize the Bill’s impact on U.S. clean energy, and what damage has it caused? At a high level, does this major policy shift lessen the appetite for investment, even in areas where subsidies remain, due to concerns about political uncertainty? For clean technology manufacturing, such as solar panels, do the newly introduced restrictions on Foreign Entities of Concern (like China) regarding content, intellectual property, and investment make it more challenging to qualify for the production tax credit (45X)? Renewable energy projects that commence construction within a year of the Bill’s passage can still be eligible for subsidies for the following four years; does this create a construction boom, and what happens afterward? Given China’s dominant position in manufacturing many types of clean energy technology, how should the U.S. compete? Is it better to leapfrog China with innovation, rather than simply following and producing the same technology?

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This week on the podcast Peter and Jackie discuss the results of a recent survey they conducted with a group of investors to understand their perspectives on investing in clean energy.  Do investors see an opportunity to generate strong returns in clean energy? Are they actively investing in clean energy? What do investors view as the most significant risks or uncertainties? 

Next, Peter and Jackie discuss why policy risk was one of the top concern areas for investors.  Why does policy risk rate high on the list of concerns?  What are the factors of policy risk that should be evaluated? 

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This episode marks the 200th ARC Energy Ideas podcast!  Peter and Jackie start the podcast commemorating this milestone. 

Next, Richard Masson, Chair of the World Petroleum Council Canada joins the podcast. Richard tells us about the 24th World Petroleum Congress that will be held in Calgary from September 17 to 21, 2023. The conference is held once every three years and has been described as the world’s leading assembly for the petroleum industry. The organizers are expecting 15,000 visitors and 5,000 delegates from over 100 countries.  

Finally, we wrap up the podcast with an update on Jackie’s solar panels, and how the economic return looks now with the first full year of actual operating data.  

Content referenced in this podcast: 

• The World Petroleum Congress website: https://www.24wpc.com/ 

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This week John Dalton, President of Power Advisory joins the podcast to provide an overview of the electricity markets in Atlantic Canada, including the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.  We also cover Quebec’s role in supplying electricity to the region.  

Here are some of the questions Peter and Jackie asked John:  Is the Muskrat Falls hydro project operating yet? What is the final cost of Muskrat Falls?  Considering the high cost, do you expect other large hydro projects to be built in Eastern Canada?  What is the latest on the Atlantic Loop and Quebec to US transmission projects? Are the incentives and financing in Canada’s Budget 2023 enough to get transmission projects started? What was the historical agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec for supplying electricity from Churchill Falls and how has that shaped the relationship between the two provinces on electricity?  Will Atlantic Canada have small modular reactors (SMRs) operating by 2035? Is renewable power generation (wind or solar) expected to grow in Atlantic Canada? Do you think Atlantic Canada will reach net zero electricity by 2035? 

Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/

To see a transcript of this podcast, visit the link (scroll part way down the page):
Atlantic Canada: Is Net Zero Electricity by 2035 Possible? (arcenergyinstitute.com)

Check us out on social media:

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This week Michael (Mike) Rose, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Tourmaline joins us as our guest. 

Tourmaline made some exciting announcements last week. First, they announced a partnership on a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station network across Western Canada to enable heavy-haul trucks to get off diesel.  The company also announced that they plan to double the amount of gas they ship as LNG by 2026. 

Here are some of the questions that Jackie and Peter asked Mike: How have Western Canadian gas producers survived low gas prices? Why is Tourmaline investing in natural gas stations for heavy-haul trucking now, considering it still has GHG emissions? Has Tourmaline reduced its environmental footprint, including greenhouse gas emissions? How challenging is it to achieve the federal government’s goal of reducing oil and gas emissions in the range of 40 to 45 percent by 2030? Are you exporting LNG to international markets today? Can Canada compete with the U.S. to supply gas to LNG export terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast? How much WCSB gas could ultimately be shipped off Canada’s West Coast?  

Other information referenced in this podcast:  

• Alberta Government’s aspirational plan to reach net zero by 2050 “Alberta emissions reduction and energy development plan.” 
• Global News (April 18, 2023) “Tourmaline, Clean Energy Fuels to partner on natural gas fueling station network.” 
• Bloomberg (April 18, 2023) “Tourmaline Aims to Double Portion of Gas Shipped as LNG by 2026.” 

Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/ 

To see a transcript of this podcast, visit the link (scroll part way down the page):
Canadian Natural Gas Has Gone Global: An Interview with Mike Rose from Tourmaline (arcenergyinstitute.com)

Check us out on social media:

Twitter: @arcenergyinst
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Listen to Peter and Jackie speak in front of a live audience with world-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky at the office of GBE Energy in Calgary (recorded on April 14, 2023). Edward is regarded as one of the world's most accomplished contemporary photographers, known for his large-format images of natural environments altered by industry. His collections are included in over 80 major museums around the world.  

Peter and Jackie talk about how Edward’s industrial pictures show the impact of human consumption on the Earth, including (among other things) oil and gas, farming, mining, and waste. Edward shares his views on energy, environmental sustainability, energy transition, climate change, and the growing footprint of humankind. 

Content referenced in this episode:  

• Edward Burtynsky’s website https://www.edwardburtynsky.com/ 
• Edward talks about a popular picture he took of a nickel mine tailings pond in Ontario. https://www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/tailings  
• The Paul Kuhn Gallery is hosting an Edward Burtynsky exhibition from April 15 to May 27, 2023 http://www.paulkuhngallery.com/ 

Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/

To see a transcript of this podcast, visit the link (scroll part way down the page): Photographer Edward Burtynsky: A Picture is Worth 1000 Spreadsheets (arcenergyinstitute.com)

Check us out on social media:

Twitter: @arcenergyinst
LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute
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On April 2, OPEC surprised the markets by announcing a large production cut. Oil prices jumped about $5 a barrel on the news.  On March 28, the 2023 Canadian Federal Budget was released which included additional details on investment tax credits (ITCs) and other incentives to support clean energy investment. This week on the podcast, Peter and Jackie discuss both the OPEC cuts and the 2023 Budget. 

Content referenced: 

• Canada Budget 2023 
• Jackie Forrest’s Globe and Mail Article from November 2022 “We built the railway in five years. So why are so many megaprojects now stalled?” 

Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/ 

To see a transcript of this podcast, visit the link (scroll part way down the page):OPEC Surprise Cut and Canada’s Budget 2023 (arcenergyinstitute.com)

 Check us out on social media:

Twitter: @arcenergyinst
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Albert Cheung, Deputy CEO, of BloombergNEF joins us as our guest this week.  BloombergNEF provides its clients with research on global commodity markets and the technologies driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy. 

Here are some of the questions that Jackie and Peter asked Albert:  How has the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) changed your outlook for energy transition investment in the U.S.? How much did investment in energy transition increase in 2022 and what was the total level of investment?  What are the hot areas for investment?  Is current investing in clean energy deployments enough to be on track for achieving net zero by 2050? BloombergNEF data shows that in Q4 2022, 19% of new vehicle sales globally were electric, is that ahead of your expectations? What are your thoughts on Canadian clean energy investing?  Do you anticipate that the current market volatility, including bank failures, high-interest rates, and SPACs could reduce investors’ appetite for investing in clean energy? 

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