It’s Go Time for Wind, Energy Storage and Solar says Bellissimo the new CEO of CanREA

Source: David Dodge | · GREEN ENERGY FUTURES · | November 24, 2022

“It’s go time for wind energy, energy storage, and solar energy,” says Vittoria Bellissimo the new President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

“What we need is rapid decarbonization and a great expansion of electricity production to achieve a net-zero economy” she told Green Energy Futures CKUA Radio Podcast.

Bellissimo replaces the long serving and much lauded Robert Hornung who also formerly headed up the Canadian Wind Energy Association before they merged with the Canadian Solar Energy Industry Association.

“Our members are offering low cost energy at a time when customers want low cost energy,” says Bellissimo.

CANRea’s vision document says that Canada needs 30 plus gigawatts of new wind and solar energy by 2030 to meet its GHG emissions targets and a net-zero grid,” says Bellissimo.

$50 Billion Investment Opportunity for Canada

“We’ve estimated that this represents a potential $50 billion investment opportunity for Canada’s wind and solar industries. And we aim to unlock this value for our members.”

“Go time” is indeed an apt description of the future of renewable energy.

Almost one gigawatt of wind and solar energy was added to the grid in Canada in 2021 and projections are 3 gigawatts more will be added in each of 2022 and 2023.

Bellissimo predicts renewable energy will become the dominant new sources of electricity generation in Canada she says. This is because “they are low cost and because Canada has abundant and enviable wind and solar resources.”