Energy Efficiency Alberta will have impact, boss says
The newly appointed head of Alberta’s first energy efficiency agency says it has enough resources to make a big difference.
“We can have real impact in terms of both job creation and energy efficiency, ensuring savings for businesses and households,” Monica Curtis said Tuesday.
Energy Efficiency Alberta is funded by the province’s carbon tax and is aimed at getting Albertans to use energy more wisely. Alberta joins all other provinces in having a government agency to promote and assist with wise energy consumption.
Curtis comes to the province from the Wisconsin-based Western Electricity Co-ordinating Council, which oversees power transmission in the western states as well as in Alberta and British Columbia.
Originally from Manitoba, Curtis has also worked for SaskPower as well as Alberta Agriculture and Edmonton-based utility Epcor back when it was called Edmonton Power.
She suggested that Alberta being the last province to inaugurate an energy efficiency program is an opportunity.
“There are great examples that the province of Alberta can borrow from and learn from all across North America,” said Curtis, who pointed to programs in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia as examples.
“Being able to draw on the experience those programs have to offer creates a really good foundation for Alberta to grow quickly from.”