A Moment with the Mayor: Energy

The topic of discussion around many tables, whether in the coffee shop or dinner table, sometimes revolves around energy in one form or another. For many of us, energy is simply a light switch or a plug-in. For others, the first thing to come to mind is gasoline or diesel.

Ever since the discovery of fire, we have had a form of energy. Wood, dried buffalo chips and coal provided the energy for heat for Indigenous Peoples and explorers alike on the Prairies. The value of timber was realized in the newly constructed sod huts as it was burned for heat.

Over time, coal replaced wood as a heating source for some. As electricity came into play, wind chargers and batteries appeared on the market to provide cherished power for radios and the electric light bulbs that replaced coal oil lamps in homes and buildings.

With the discovery of oil and then the refining of oil into gasoline, the Prairies, in particular, saw cars and trucks and tractors to replace true horsepower. Steam engines on farms were soon replaced by gasoline tractors, then diesel engines which almost entirely removed horses from the farmwork scene.

The availability of diesel allowed for the transition to relying on diesel rather than coal or wood for heat. Initially natural gas was seen as a waste byproduct; it soon became the leading energy source sought after by industry and consumers alike. Throughout time our energy source continues to change. Today, the discussion focuses on renewable vs non-renewable energy, nuclear vs non-renewable energy and the desire for green energy. Energy is available today in many forms that we must consider as we look to the future. We are blessed with both heavy oil and natural gas throughout our region. Economic prosperity for both the rural and urban areas is evident, as we have seen with the development of these resources in our area.

We don’t have to drive far to see renewable energy options like solar panels and wind turbines. Interestingly wind chargers made their appearance on the prairies almost 100 years ago. What does the future hold for us with huge strides being made to gain the most value from non-renewable energy sources and the continuous improvement of renewable energy and nuclear energy technologies? Will we develop more ways to turn our waste into energy? Will we capitalize on other sources? It will be interesting to see what the next 100 years have in store for us.