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Alberta has semi-deregulated utilities; and there is a series of wind turbines in southwest Alberta. There is a surcharge for this 'green power'; it costs the end consumer more per kilowatt hour to use electricity from the turbines; even though it is on the same grid that is primarily fed by coal or NG plants. This was also the case prior to deregulation. While there are acedmic efforts (the new Natural Resources and Energy Facility here at the UofA, there has been little provicial effort to become more green, which is understandable when you consider where most revenue for Alberta (and in considerable amounts, federal Canada) comes from.
So our engergy transmission monopolists and our government openly do not support green energy.
On a federal level, there are some energy initatives. "Take the One-ton challenge", aimed at reducing consumption. And on the municipal level, here in Edmonton, there are efforts, such as the CORE program. (Carbondi Oxide Reduction Edmonton).
In the big picture though, I think that the mentality around here is "I can afford to heat my home and drive my truck, so who cares". However, I don't support this frame of mind. With the rising cost of crude and thereby NG, coal generation has stepped up, but current technology in the current plants doesn't agree with Kyoto. I don't know what this means in the short term, but it will become a larger public issue before long.
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