Cascade Institute: "Canada's regulatory moment: making geothermal work across provinces." Our neighbor to the north has the heat, the tech, + the capital. The graphic is an invitation to a geothermal conference in June of next year in Calgary, so only about 10 hrs by road from where we live. And my wife + I love car trips, listening to book narrations [hint, hint] of course. "The Cascade Institute’s recent Groundwork Report: Regulatory Guidelines for Making Canada a Geothermal Powerhouse was just released. The report highlights 3 pillars for success: geology, which is abundant [especially in the west], financing,  hindered by high upfront risk, regulation, the biggest (and fixable) barrier today. The 6 priority actions provinces could take immediately are the following: [1] Define geothermal as heat, not just fluid' [2] Stay tech-agnostic (EGS, closed-loop, etc.); [3] Streamline permitting timelines; [4] Cap lease sizes to avoid monopolies; [5] Set clear tenure timelines; [6] Mandate early public engagement. "These aren’t just suggestions—they’re rooted in global best practice. From New Zealand’s co-management with Indigenous partners to Türkiye’s focus on communication and the Philippines’ energy-based definitions, the report connects Canada to an international playbook." Our northern neighbor will never be a 51st state. But they certainly can + should become a hotbed for geothermal. Chime in if you think we should attend this conference. Thanks.
