This week: windmill.jpg

Commuters have had something to smile about at the pumps in recent weeks, with gas prices slashed to nearly half of their pre-crash levels, but what does this mean for Canada’s alternative energy producers?

  • We speak with Andreas Marouhos, Director of the University of Toronto’s Blue Sky Solar Racing team, about the coming fortunes of alternative energy in light of economic troubles, home uses of solar, and recent technological advances.
  • Andreas recommends websites to help find companies that will install solar, government renewable energy grants, and alternative ways to cut your energy bills:
  • Andrew Nikiforuk, Calgary journalist and author of the new book Tar Sands, speaks with host Jordan Poppenk about the opportunities for debate about the project as well as the impact of crashing oil prices on the dirty side of energy production.

The headlines in brief:

  • Environmental groups are calling for investment in sustainable energy technologies to stimulate economic growth.
  • British Colombia fish farmers are seeking approval for massive expansions to offshore farms despite worries that current farms damage the local ecology.
  • Ontario’s environment minister attended an international summit on climate change in California and has committed the province to the Western Climate Initiative.
  • The Quebec town of Hampstead has banned woodstoves over pollution concerns.
  • Three popular pesticides have been restricted in the US west coasts to protect populations of salmon.
  • A new study shows that forests in the American west have been devastated by bark beetles.

You can download the show here (right click, save as…), or listen in the player ** Note: player will close if you surf away from the page**