Marlo Raynolds argues that the real challenge for Canada's Prime Minister is whether he is able to create a made-in-Canada climate plan — or leave it to American lawmakers to decide our climate and, therefore, economic policy.

A full and informed public debate about Alberta's electricity future is long overdue. Given the rapid and sustained global investment in renewable energy, this debate is only half-complete if renewable energy is not fully considered.

Alberta's recently released Nuclear Power Expert Panel report calls for a "debate" of the "relative risks/benefits (of nuclear energy) compared with alternatives." But the panel views nuclear energy through an uncritical lens and offers only a cursory and selective overview of the burgeoning array of green options already being deployed... 

In a world desperate to respond to the potentially dangerous effects of global warming, Alberta has come to a major fork in the road: should it continue to rely on the dirty, brown, coal-fired electricity technologies of the past, or should Alberta diversify and develop the clean green electricity technologies of the future?

Canada's economy is in need of a jump-start. To reinvigorate our chilled economy, we need to diversify our economic base and create new jobs that will put money into the pockets of Canadian workers.

Last week we learned that Ontario set up a Climate Change Secretariat to coordinate and implement Ontario's climate plan. The secretariat is a good move, but it needs to have the authority to ensure all ministries are accountable and the muscle to wrestle with Ontario's strongest lobbies.

Our dirty coal-fired power plants were back in the news with electoral candidates arguing the ifs and whens of their necessary shut down. Shutting down coal plants seems like a no-brainer, but heels keep dragging.

Alberta's wind-energy industryAlberta's wind-energy industry — until recently Canada's undisputed leader — is being systematically blocked by short-term transmission bottlenecks, a long-term cap on production and an obvious lack of leadership to solve either problem.

A credible environmental budget must develop a cleaner, more efficient economy, protect Canadians' health, preserve healthy economies, communities and ecosystems in the North, protect species at risk, and reduce wasted tax subsidies.

Manitoba, Quebec sand B.C. have at least stepped up to the plate with plans. Where is Ontario?

The cap of 900 megawatts of wind power imposed by the Alberta Electric System Operator makes Alberta the only province to cap one of the fastest growing energy industries in the world and forfeits the province's lead in developing this renewable resource.

The Harper government's latest plans to cut energy efficiency and renewable energy programs will set Canada back a decade in its efforts to reduce energy costs for homeowners and curb the environmental impacts of high energy use.

Federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose re-announced this week her government's election promise to replace five per cent of the fuel at the pumps with renewable fuels (ethanol and biodiesel) by 2010. The question is: How much will this actually benefit the environment?

The Edmonton Journal published excerpts of visions of prominent Albertans about life in Alberta in 2105. Click here for Mary Griffiths' unabridged perspective.