As we move from the second quarter of 2021 and into the third quarter we have a lot to be grateful and excited for. We are really excited to get back to in person events and are hopeful to see that happen by September.

The ESAM board has been busy through the second quarter planning for our AGM, identifying further opportunities for lunch and learns and developing relationships with other organizations. One relationship we are excited about is with the Maritime Renewable Canada. We feel this is a great fit with ESAM and are excited to see where this relationship goes.

In addition to this newsletter, we are also preparing biographies for our new board members – look for that coming up on LinkedIn. We have a great board this year and I can’t wait to see where we are next year.

Finally, I wanted to take the opportunity to remind our members that the board is here to bring value to you. If you have ideas on how we can bring more value, we are open to suggestions, please reach out!

On behalf of the Board, thank you.

.

Michael Doucet, B.Sc. , P.Ag (BC), EP

ESAM President

ESAM has continued with our popular Lunch ‘N Learn sessions by going virtual in 2020 and we continue to be virtual in 2021. Although we do miss the opportunity to spend time in person with attendees and members, we are very pleased with the response we have had to our online presentations and we look forward to being able to begin hosting in person events again in the coming months.

On May 19^th  Dr. Diane Botelho from the Research and Productivity Council (RPC) presented Legionella and Legionnaire’s Disease: Water testing and Risk Management.

Upcoming Lunch ‘N Learns

Gerard Chisolm with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will present on the Environmental Emergency (E2) Regulations 2019 on September 9, 2021.

Details & Registration

Dr. Gagnon from Dalhousie University will present on COVID in wastewater on September 23, 2021.

These lunch ‘n learns are a great opportunity to connect with our membership and to gain insight into timely topics presented by those who are directly involved. Please keep an eye out for an invitation to these sessions. We hope to see you then!

Details & Registration

Addressing the impacts of climate change is arguably one of the most overwhelming and daunting ambitions of our time, but every stakeholder is advancing with their respective solutions. Heritage Gas Business Development Manager, Jordan MacNeil, cites their vision and mission for our energy transition.

“Nova Scotia will need a massive increase in renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels to meet our Province’s ambitious climate action goals, notably net-zero emissions by 2050”, he states.

“Some people think that we will just green the electric grid and electrify everything, but that simply won’t be enough.”  He says to get to net-zero emissions, we’ll need to replace most of our fossil fuels with renewable energy that can be produced at large scale, stored to meet our peak energy needs in the winter, transported easily, and used in all of the diverse ways that we use fossil fuels today.

In the face of so many challenges across a country with diverse needs and resources, MacNeil describes an integrated energy system as a better way forward to achieve net-zero emissions.

“We’ve got a competitive advantage in Nova Scotia with our excellent wind resources, as well as solar and tides.

“First, by using an integrated approach we can fundamentally change the way energy is produced, stored, and distributed. Linking the electric and gas grids offers complementary benefits that makes achieving net-zero emissions more feasible and affordable, and we’ll have an energy system that’s more resilient to extreme weather events like hurricanes and winter storms.”

Green hydrogen will be essential to reduce emissions to net-zero. MacNeil says green Hydrogen is a renewable gas that is produced by using electricity from renewable sources, like wind or solar, in a process called electrolysis to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Capturing that renewable energy to generate hydrogen is a low-carbon process, making it “green.”

“Green hydrogen can be used to store wind and solar energy so we can use it when we need it, even when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining.

“Second, Nova Scotia is already a leader in renewable energy, and developing green hydrogen is a huge opportunity to create new jobs and attract new investments.”

With respect to addressing climate change, Nova Scotia has set goals that require reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 53% below 2005 levels by 2030, and to net-zero emissions by 2050. MacNeil says reaching these goals mandate “a fundamental transformation of our energy system.”

Integrating sources for cold winter days

MacNeil reports that fossil fuels currently meet seventy five percent of the province’s energy needs, and the heaviest demand on the energy system is in the winter, making it vulnerable to extreme cold and winter storms. Optimizing all renewable energy sources from both a clean gas grid and a clean electricity grid “will provide the resilience we need all year round and allow us to meet our winter peak energy demand in a more economical way.”

He comments on those cold day energy needs.

“We know that electric heat pump efficiency drops in extreme cold or it will operate in a more expensive back-up mode, while natural gas can economically meet our high energy demand, even on the coldest winter days.

“To achieve net-zero emissions in Nova Scotia the gas that flows through our underground pipes will need to be transformed from traditional natural gas to renewable natural gas and low-carbon hydrogen gas, and at the same time create the integrated energy system that links electricity and gas grids. We are perfectly poised to make these transitions.”

Energy for all, and all the time

“We need multiple energy sources to meet and support the future needs of consumers, industry, and both light and heavy transportation.

“It’s not a one-size fits all. For example, many industries need high-temperature heat for manufacturing. Gases – natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen – can meet the needs of these high-temperature industrial processes, while electricity often cannot. Similarly, while battery-electric vehicles are very good for light-duty transportation, hydrogen fuel cell-electric vehicles are much better for heavy transportation.”

While MacNeil affirms that the moment is now and there is no time to waste, there needs to be initiative and action. To start now, MacNeil says, “We need clear government policies, regulations, and incentives, as these are the key market signals that will attract investment and spur our energy transformation.”

And equally important is educating consumers so they understand the economic, environmental, and lifestyle benefits of clean energy solutions.

“Consumers can encourage and drive government to think holistically about our clean energy future. Government can create policies, programs, rebates, and other incentives to drive changes to help every sector achieve our net-zero goal. It is a nationwide and province wide mission, but every Nova Scotian in every community can play a role.”

Nova Scotia will have to develop the resources and the infrastructure to efficiently and affordably meet our clean energy needs without over-building generating capacity or wasting energy.  MacNeil says, “All of this will contribute to the clean future we all want and need.”

To learn more:

https://www.heritagegas.com/net-zero/

https://www.heritagegas.com/what-is-a-gj/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnEv8xq5n-E

 

Below:  two graphics that represent Hydrogen and Energy Integration systems courtesy of Heritage Gas

Version 4 of the Atlantic RBCA Toolkit and User Guidance will replace Version 3

Now Available

 Atlantic RBCA V4 User Guidance

 2021 Atlantic RBCA EQS/PSS

Coming Soon

Atlantic RBCA V4 Toolkit – Available by August 30, 2021

Important changes to the V4 User Guidance and V4 Toolkit include updates to the chemical toxicity database, expanded subsurface volatilization modelling options, updates to hazard quotients and carcinogenic vs. non-carcinogenic SSTLs.

LEARN MORE…

Also available are the 2021 Atlantic RBCA EQS/PSS

(with the associated Rationale Document).

LEARN MORE…Effective August 30, 2021, Atlantic Regulators will require assessment, remediation and closure reports to utilize Atlantic RBCA V4 Toolkit and V4 User Guidance and/or 2021 Atlantic RBCA EQS/PSS with specific Exceptions as outlined in the Atlantic RBCA V4 and EQS/PSS Implementation Procedure

Membership Benefits	Membership Type
	Standard	Prominent	Premier
A detailed company profile in ESAM’s online directory,  complete with a logo, description of services, email &  website links as well as a hotlink to your organization’s  website	√	√	√
Participation in ESAM’s Annual General Meeting	√	√	√
Certificate of Membership Status with ESAM’s values to  display in your place of business (upon request)	√	√	√
Opportunity to volunteer on committees and/or serve on the ESAM Board of Directors	√	√	√
Opportunity to display your company’s promotional  material at events where ESAM has arranged a  communal booth and/or information stand	√	√	√
Discounts on Home & Auto, Travel & Pet insurance  through Johnson Insurance	√	√	√
1 free advertising space in one of ESAM’s quarterly  Newsletters (per membership year)	√	√	√
Your company’s logo posted in our membership directory homepage and quarterly Newsletters for the  membership year		√	√
1 Opportunity to advertise on our LinkedIn via an Eblast  to promote your company’s special announcement  and/or description of services with logo and/or image  advertisement (per membership year)		√	√
Your company’s logo listed on ESAM’s website Home  Page and quarterly Newsletters for the membership year			√
Verbal recognition as an ESAM Premier Member,  including logo placement, at all ESAM events of your  choice			√