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CanREA webinar: Election 2021 debrief: The people, policies and politics that will shape the months ahead
October 20, 2021
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
In the days following Canada’s 2021 election, a new cabinet was named, mandate letters were delivered and near-term priorities emerged. With the new government, the scope and pace of Canada’s energy transition remains a core issue. Patricia Fuller, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change, and Sussex Strategy Group’s team of federal government experts, in partnership with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, presented a webinar and discussion of the people, policies and politics that will shape the months ahead.
Speakers
Chris Benedetti
Managing Partner, Sussex Strategy Group

Chris is well regarded as one of Canada’s most knowledgeable public affairs consultants. With experience in both federal and provincial governments, Chris provides an in-depth insight and expertise into various policy development and political processes. He has advised a diverse range of domestic and international clients and, since 1999, he has led client efforts on energy-related policy, regulatory and procurement matters.
Chris has helped clients not only better understand the policy and political imperatives that are the basis for decisions surrounding system planning and procurement but has also assisted in working with government and its agencies to amend policies where and when warranted; in complying with various rules and requirements; and in liaising with affected local stakeholders and communities.
Devin McCarthy
Senior Vice President and Federal Practice Lead, Sussex Strategy Group

Devin has spent almost fifteen years working in the Nation’s Capital on a wide range of federal policy issues, including in the energy, environment, agriculture, industry, and technology spheres. Today, Devin serves as a Vice President at Sussex, overseeing the Federal Government Relations practice and heading up the Ottawa office. Devin supports a diverse roster of clients in navigating the federal political, policy, regulatory and funding landscape. He is adept at finding common ground between client and government to connect commercial outcomes with pressing political agendas. Devin also oversees the work of a team of consultants based in Ottawa.
This event was sponsored by Sussex Strategy Group.

CanREA Operations Summit 2022
May 31 & June 1, 2022
Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Canada’s renewable energy industry stands on the shoulders of the individuals who construct, operate and supply our country’s expanding fleet of wind, solar, and energy storage assets. CanREA’s Operations Summit 2022 offered attendees unmatched learning opportunities and connection points.
Live and in-person in Toronto, this two-day event featured expert speakers, innovative forums and specialized sessions addressing highly technical operations topics and complex human factors.
The high-calibre program was enhanced by coordinated networking opportunities, with ample space and time allocated for mingling and chatting face-to-face. Renewable energy leaders had the option to choose one program stream to follow, mix and match, or find a spot on this year’s expanded show floor.
Thank you to everyone who joined CanREA to take part in the nuts and bolts of Canada’s energy transition at Canada’s largest wind, solar and energy storage operations event.
Check out our recent press release for more information about the event.
Thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors and media partners!
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Operations Summit: Summer Spotlight
Flexibility by Design
June 22, 2021
10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This virtual event presented a fun, summer edition of the CanREA Operations Summit. CanREA’s Summer Spotlight focused on flexibility by design, because renewable-energy technologies are evolving so rapidly that being flexible is not just an option, but a necessity.
The operations sector is at the leading edge of Canada’s clean-energy transition, blazing a trail for the rapid adoption of new ideas and demonstrating a whole new level of adaptability and innovation to ensure the safe, reliable and effective operation of renewable-energy sites.
It was the perfect opportunity for site operators, installers, manufacturers, service providers, researchers and supply-chain managers to brush up on emerging concepts in operations to help inform summertime work and strategic planning.
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How Electricity Can Help Canada Achieve Net-Zero GHG Emissions by 2050

March 17
This webinar discussed the lessons learned from the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices’ analysis of 60 different potential pathways to making net zero a reality in Canada. It unpacked key findings related to the important role electricity is likely to play in Canada’s efforts to address climate change.
Moderator:
Robert Hornung, President & CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
Speaker:
Jason Dion, Mitigation Research Director, Canadian Institute for Climate Choices
Spring Forward! Recharging Canada’s Economy with Renewables
This virtual event explored how wind energy, solar energy and energy storage will play a key role in boosting economic growth and job creation post-pandemic, while supporting critical 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
The program featured a dozen sessions over two days, led by experts from across Canada and around the world.
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What’s Next for Corporate Power Purchase Agreements and Renewables in Canada?

February 17, 2021
This webinar featured an insightful discussion of what can be done to enhance opportunities for continued growth of the Corporate PPA market throughout Canada. As demonstrated in Alberta, sourcing wind and solar energy directly from suppliers is an increasingly attractive option for corporations with interests in Canada. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) provide opportunities for corporations to hedge against rising electricity costs while delivering on their sustainability goals.
Moderator:
Jason Chee-Aloy, Managing Director, Power Advisory LLC
Speakers:
Grant Arnold, President & CEO, BluEarth Renewables
Stephen Cookson, Director, Development and Origination, RES
Patrick Taylor, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft
Introduction to the NRCAN Planning & Decision Guide for Solar PV
The newly released NRCan Planning and Decision Guide for Solar PV Systems offers an integrated design strategy to support residential builders seamlessly integrate solar PV into their projects. Key solar PV systems design and installation challenges are explained and demystified.
Design teams are guided through intentional steps in the design stage, clearly defining solar energy production goals, solar array placement and attachment methods, electrical and structural impacts, and technology choice, while avoiding common pitfalls and improving solar PV project outcomes.
This webinar demonstrated the NRCan Guide in action, with a custom residential builder and solar PV consultant working through a real residential design example. Design and application principles presented are relevant to both residential and commercial design and construction professionals interested in smoother solar PV project integration and improved system performance.
Moderator:
Nicholas Gall, Director, Distributed Energy Resources, CanREA
Presenters:
- Ben Giudici, P.Eng, Director – Riverside Energy Systems
- Jonathan Zerkee, President – Sonbuilt Custom Homes
- Alastair Larwill, Innovation Technology Officer, NRCAN/RNCAN
Affordability of Wind, Solar and Energy Storage Technologies

December 8, 2020
In this webinar, we discussed how your investment in CanREA enables the association to work with industry, government, regulators, and other stakeholders to secure renewable energy and energy storage as the centrepiece in Canada’s future energy mix.
Speakers:
- Logan Goldie-Scot, Head of Clean Power Research, BloombergNEF
- Robert Hornung, President & CEO, CanREA
Special presentation:
- Wesley Johnston, Vice President of Business Development, Finance and Operations, CanREA
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CanREA Operations Summit
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) launched their inaugural Operations Summit on January 26-27. Building on the successes of the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s past O&M Summit, this event focused on the dedication to the operation of wind, solar and energy storage sites in Canada.
More than 250 industry movers and shakers attended over the two days. A deep dive into the innovative and practical work happening on the ground to deliver on Canada’s 2050 climate commitments, it was also a unique occasion for leading experts from around the world to assemble virtually and gain cutting-edge information on operating sites in Canada.
Speakers shared a look back at 2020 while focusing on the path ahead, sharing unique stories of how they navigated this challenging year and presenting important insights on the most significant operations and maintenance (O&M) trends developing in Canada.
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