Canadian Solar Industries Association announces Solar Canada 2016 Conference and Exhibition program

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The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) and Hannover Fairs (Canada), Inc. today announced the CanSIA Solar Canada 2016 Conference and Exhibition program. Canadian and international solar power and renewable energy experts will gather at this year’s event at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre from December 5-6 in Toronto, Canada.

“Certainly a hot topic of discussion during this year’s conference will be the federal government’s commitment to join the global community in taking action to limit climate change to significantly less than two degrees Celsius and moving Canada toward a deep de-carbonization of our economy by 2050,” said John Gorman, President & CEO of the Canadian Solar Industries Association. “Recent federal and provincial government announcements have offered us spot-on signals regarding new opportunities targeted to the renewable, cleantech and solar energy investment and business communities. During the Solar Canada 2016 event, we expect to maintain this momentum, as well as generate a high-level of expectation and confidence for solar energy development throughout Canada.”

Kicking off Solar Canada 2016 is Kim Rudd MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Natural Resources. MP Rudd will address how the Government of Canada’s ratification of the Paris Agreement and leadership in convening the provinces and territories to develop the Pan-Canadian Climate Change Framework represents the most significant climate action in Canada’s history. Other keynote speakers at this year’s event are Glenn Thibeault, Ontario Minister of Energy, Mike Marsh, President and CEO of SaskPower, and Don Forgeron, President and CEO of Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

Global industrial technology, economic and environment visionary, Jeremy Rifkin, will deliver the morning’s keynote on the first day of the conference. His session will address how solar energy is changing the energy dynamic and why Canada’s solar industry should be at the forefront of addressing the world’s climate change crises.

“Mr. Rifkin is a true believer in the global power of solar energy, and Canada’s leading position as an early pioneer of renewable energy policies and practices,” added Gorman. “His talk should both engage and inspire this year’s event attendees.”

Also of note on December 5, John Gorman will moderate an afternoon plenary session with noted industry expert panelists, including Bruce Campbell, President & CEO of Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Annette Verschuren, Chair & CEO of NRStor Inc., and David Wheeler, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University.

On December 6, the morning keynote session – The Great Canadian Electricity Conversation – will feature a number of Canada’s renewable energy leaders who will discuss the future of Canada’s renewable electricity opportunities and challenges. Moderated by Sarah Petrevan, Senior Policy Advisor of Clean Energy Canada, panel members include John Gorman, Robert Hornung, President of Canadian Wind Energy Association, and Jacob Irving, President of Canadian Hydropower Association.

The morning breakout session on December 6 will bring together a high-level industry panel to discuss investment decision-making in maintaining and expanding our electricity distribution system. The panel will explore issues that impact utilities and Canada’s solar industry. They will address a variety of topics, including behind-the-meter solar plus storage, how will the Internet of Things change system operability, and how should utilities evolve to continue to be relevant and viable in the face of all this change.