Co-operation critical for renewable energy

Natural gas touted as transition fuel for producers

Power players at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region conference called for cross-border co-operation to successfully bring renewable energy online, emphasizing the role of natural gas as a transition fuel.

Executives and political representatives from Alberta, B.C., Washington and Oregon gathered at a conference in downtown Calgary on Monday to discuss the need for a paced, well-planned integration of wind and solar energy onto the transmission grid.

Provinces and states are moving to variable sources of power from primarily consistent power generation from sources such as coal and hydro, delegates at the PNWER Summit heard.

And while public sentiment is pushing toward greener energy, regulators and utilities recognize the challenges of adding intermittent power sources and keeping a stable transmission grid.

Natural gas is seen as a critical "transition" fuel as North America shifts to a less carbon-intensive generation and transportation world, said Doug Bloom, with Spectra Energy Transmission.