Once upon a time long ago, Ballard Power Systems came into existence. In 1983, the company’s founders began working on fuel cells that generate electrical energy from a combination of hydrogen and air. In 1990, the company began development of a 5 kW fuel cell stack, proving that the concept actually works at a useful level. In 1991, Ballard entered a joint program between Ballard, General Motors and the US Department of Energy to collaborate on development of a fuel cell powered automobile - [Read more]
Column: An idea for abandonment liability management – heading off the next crisis before it appears
It’s springtime - greening grass, new leaves, robins, the Masters… and the Orphan Well Fund annual levy. The latter won’t strike fear in most of you, but those who are awaiting it don’t feel very good. This year’s levy against producers is a very substantial $135 million up from $72 million the year prior. The orphan well levy is an attempt to clean up the historical mess caused by (in no particular order) severe commodity price collapses, capital flight due to industry antagonism, [Read more]
Column: Wake Up, West – a new energy world order is building, fast
Here in the weird West, where we set aside our vast wealth, bountiful resources, technological prowess, best-in-history medical/safety establishments, and other assorted existential victories to get into fistfights about whether more racism will eliminate racism and who can go to the bathroom where, we are used to watching ancient conflicts take place on the other side of the world, shaking our head, and wondering either “Why can’t they all just get along” or “Well that’s unacceptable, better [Read more]
Column: Who is brave enough to enter the oil patch these days? A salute to the few, courageous and needed
“Steer clear of the charlatans and the toxic. You become who you know.” - Mindset of Stoics via Twitter Ever finished a home project, like making a table from scratch, and maybe it’s kind of gimpy and imperfect, but nevertheless you stand back with a sense of satisfaction, and feel good about what you did? Accomplishment. Now imagine multiplying that feeling a thousand-fold by producing something that benefits countless others in an existential, life-giving way. Farming is one example. [Read more]
Column: The humanitarian horror that ‘electrify everything’ would unleash
Standing on the train platform the other day, after work, a chilling event happened, and I'm not just referring to the weather, although there was that. It was one of those dull but frigid days when standing still, waiting, on concrete, leaves a person daydreaming not of mansions and fast cars and alluring holidays but of crawling under a pile of blankets. The cheerful Calgary Transit voice comes over the speaker system to tell us the temperature, and that it’s cloudy. Shut up. We know. We’re [Read more]
Column: If China is picking our politicians, can we at least get them to teach us a thing or two about industrial policy?
There is something really crappy and dumb going on with Canadian industrial policy. Maybe you’ve figured it out. I sure haven’t. In the spirit of "the more minds working on it the better", here are some low-lights to get everyone’s brains working on it before we all head to the voting booth next time (while this is from a Canadian perspective it also applies to the US and other countries as well - the only difference in viewpoints relates to the financial/military/cultural strength of the bunker [Read more]
Column: When science gets mugged for the media – a case study
I walked past a truck in a parking lot the other day and I figured out what’s wrong with everybody. It was a good-looking new semi-small one, and, walking with my head down, watching for ice and muttering as usual, I almost walked into the side of it. There, staring me in the face, was a huge decal on the side that said: “Tremor.” It was a Ford Ranger Tremor XLT. Hmm. Maybe it was just a weird day but for some reason the absurd names struck me literally. In the real world, I know what a ranger [Read more]
Column: Energy should not be controversial; how did this happen? A look into the machine
Are you familiar with Sam Bankman-Fried, the crypto-whiz kid that started crypto-exchange FTX, the 30-year-old worth $30 billion, some were hailing as the new Warren Buffett? His empire is now a pile of rubble, and against all legal advice he’s been delightfully verbose about the epic failure. Here’s a text exchange with a reporter, grammar verbatim: Q: you were really good at talking about ethics, for someone who saw it all as a game with winners and losers A: ya… A: hehe A: I had [Read more]
Column: An open letter to Californians: A high-utility-bill explanation, and a path to a smarter energy future
Dear Californians, I just love your state. It has everything. It is home to Bugs Bunny, sourdough bread, Silicon Valley, Death Valley, the Valley, Redwood forests, deserts, ski resorts, endless beaches, the accidental Salton Sea, a vast movie industry, a vast porn industry, vegetable and fruit crops that feed several nations. It has the highest elevation and the lowest in the entire lower 48 states and a stunning array of beautiful geography. California appears to have at least one of [Read more]
Column: An open letter to southern Ontario and Quebec voters – in this global energy crisis, your votes carry global significance; use your power wisely!
Hello fellow Canadians, Greetings from Western Canada. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m a peculiar energy writer from out west, affiliated with no one, and I have some energy points I’d like you to consider. First, Exhibit 1 of said peculiarity, a thought exercise. Have you ever contemplated, while sitting on a plane taxiing for takeoff, how the tube full of people you’re sitting in has to hold up those long heavy wings full of fuel, but the second you are airborne those wings hold you and [Read more]
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