The Buzz
LATITUDE
Now, the underpass is getting spruced up to the tune of $3.5 million, which will create a safer, more comfortable pedestrian experience. With the help of corporate donations, the city is adding LED lights, painting steel girders and repairing sidewalks. Work is scheduled for completion this summer. The underpass is actually part of one of the city’s two oldest remaining railroad bridges.
-Jacqueline Louie
GREEN EMPLOYMENT OVERTAKES OILSANDS
Renewable energy has grown enough in the last five years that it now surpasses the oil sands when measured by employment. So says a new report published by Clean Energy Canada, a non- government advocate for renewables. Employment in the clean energy sector — hydro power, wind, solar, biomass and the like — is up 37 per cent to 23,700 workers. In comparison, oil sands employment is 22,340. The report advocates more renewable power generation in Alberta, with its plentiful sunny days and wind.
-Jacqueline Louie
WILL ALBERTA MAKE ROOM FOR ITS RIVERS?
A new study says that using the power of Mother Nature is part of the answer to mitigating future floods in Alberta. Alberta WaterSMART, an engineering consulting company, presented a report to the Government of Alberta in December, after combin- ing input from the public, municipalities, water managers, and watershed and environmental organizations. Of particular potential is a program used in the Netherlands to manage flooding. Called Room for the River, it manages high water levels along rivers by giving them room to grow. Solutions could include buying out property owners in flood basins, preventing new development in floodplains and widening river banks. The report includes advice on what could be done along southern Alberta’s Bow and Elbow rivers to reduce the vulnerability of people and infrastructure, improve environmental quality, mitigate future flooding and manage watersheds.
-Jacqueline Louie
EDMONTON MAY BE RESILIENT TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
Edmonton’s economy could remain in decent shape, if the slump in oil prices doesn’t persist for too long. City of Edmonton Chief Economist John Rose thinks the city should be relatively insulated
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