Past Seminar Presentations & Videos

Blockchain as an Enabling Technology for Microgrids and DERS

Blockchain is widely discussed as a potential enabling technology for the development of microgrids and distributed energy resources (DERs). How important is blockchain to the adoption of these technologies? What might a blockchain-enabled DER development path look like for Ontario? Is the role of blockchain in DER development overstated?

The Joint Clean Climate Transport Research Partnership (JCCTRP) is a new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research partnership focusing on issues related to transport and climate policy in Quebec, California, Ontario and Vermont. The ultimate goal of the JCCTRP is to identify technical, economic and political factors shaping the potential for environmentally effective, economically efficient, and politically viable low-carbon transport and climate mitigation policy, and understand their implications for emissions trading.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE THE TRANSPORT SECTOR MORE FULLY INTO CLIMATE ACTION. The Joint Clean Climate Transport Research Partnership (JCCTRP) is a new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research partnership focusing on issues related to transport and climate policy in Quebec, California, Ontario and Vermont. The ultimate goal of the JCCTRP is to identify technical, economic and political factors shaping the potential for environmentally effective, economically efficient, and politically viable low-carbon transport and climate mitigation policy, and understand their implications for emissions trading.

Bill C-69, the Trudeau government's promised reform of the federal environmental assessment process and the role of the National Energy Board was adopted in June 2019 after a long and sometimes bitter legislative struggle. Amendments to the Fisheries Act were adopted at the same time.

What does the legislation really achieve? Why is the Province of Alberta challenging the legislation? Join us for a highly informative discussion with four experts who were deeply involved in the development of Bills C-68 and C-69.

The Trudeau government's long-awaited Bill C-69, reforming the federal environmental assessment processes, roles of energy regulatory agencies and the Navigation Protection Act, was tabled on February 8th. Along with the amendments to the Fisheries Act introduced on February 6th (Bill C-68), the initiative represents the most significant federal legislative proposals on the environment seen for many years.

York University, the Sustainable Energy Initiative, and the Ontario Climate Consortium present — Energy Storage Policy Developments in the US, EU and UK

The Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) and MES/JD program at York University present — The Federal Environmental and Regulatory Review Process: A Panel Discussion on Legislative Reform

Chaired by Environmental Studies Professor Mark Winfield of York University, the second panel in this workstream explored future energy systems. Specifically, this panel looked at frameworks for energy storage technologies, the movement towards 100% cities, and the future of energy efficiency in Ontario.

The panel on community energy planning explored important questions related to the implementation of sustainable energy at the municipal and local level. Speakers included individuals from the public, non-profit, and energy sectors.

The final panel in the Sustainable Energy Workstream explored long-term energy policy in Ontario. Chaired by the OCC’s Peter Love, the panel examined the best evidence-based options for clean energy production. This included examining energy demand forecasts, the taxpayer costs related to cap and trade, variable energy flows, and the costs associated refurbishing existing nuclear reactors.