NewEnergyNews: SOLAR FOR CANADA’S ECONOMY/

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Gleanings from the web and the world, condensed for convenience, illustrated for enlightenment, arranged for impact...

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YESTERDAY

THINGS-TO-THINK-ABOUT WEDNESDAY, August 23:

  • TTTA Wednesday-ORIGINAL REPORTING: The IRA And The New Energy Boom
  • TTTA Wednesday-ORIGINAL REPORTING: The IRA And the EV Revolution
  • THE DAY BEFORE

  • Weekend Video: Coming Ocean Current Collapse Could Up Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: Impacts Of The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current Collapse
  • Weekend Video: More Facts On The AMOC
  • THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEFORE

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 15-16:

  • Weekend Video: The Truth About China And The Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: Florida Insurance At The Climate Crisis Storm’s Eye
  • Weekend Video: The 9-1-1 On Rooftop Solar
  • THE DAY BEFORE THAT

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 8-9:

  • Weekend Video: Bill Nye Science Guy On The Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: The Changes Causing The Crisis
  • Weekend Video: A “Massive Global Solar Boom” Now
  • THE LAST DAY UP HERE

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 1-2:

  • The Global New Energy Boom Accelerates
  • Ukraine Faces The Climate Crisis While Fighting To Survive
  • Texas Heat And Politics Of Denial
  • --------------------------

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    Founding Editor Herman K. Trabish

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    WEEKEND VIDEOS, June 17-18

  • Fixing The Power System
  • The Energy Storage Solution
  • New Energy Equity With Community Solar
  • Weekend Video: The Way Wind Can Help Win Wars
  • Weekend Video: New Support For Hydropower
  • Some details about NewEnergyNews and the man behind the curtain: Herman K. Trabish, Agua Dulce, CA., Doctor with my hands, Writer with my head, Student of New Energy and Human Experience with my heart

    email: herman@NewEnergyNews.net

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  • WEEKEND VIDEOS, August 24-26:
  • Happy One-Year Birthday, Inflation Reduction Act
  • The Virtual Power Plant Boom, Part 1
  • The Virtual Power Plant Boom, Part 2

    Tuesday, May 27, 2008

    SOLAR FOR CANADA’S ECONOMY

    That’s the sun lighting up Canada’s manufacturing sector. And not a moment too soon.

    Tibor Urbanek, founder/president, Woodbine Tool & Die: "It [was] a very dark situation…"

    Woodbine Tool & Die lost a third of its workforce in the last 2 years.

    Urbanek: "We have no choice but to look for alternative work for our employees…If we're going to stay in business, we have to be flexible and reach out to anything available."

    What kind of work turns out to be available? Solar systems manufacturing. Solar systems producer Menova Energy Inc. moved into part of the Woodbine manufacturing plant and put Woodbine's personnel into high gear.

    Dave Gerwing, president/founder, Menova: "They're just stoked, and they've really been super accommodating…They offer the kind of scale we needed."

    Things suddenly look promising for Woodbine. Wal-Mart Canada is installing a Menova solar system and may install such systems in Wal-Marts across the country. Getting a small part of that business would keep Menova and Woodbine busy for 4 years and generate new manufacturing and “green collar” jobs worth a quarter of a billion dollars.

    Urbanek: "To support that level of demand, Woodbine Tool & Die's operations in Ontario would grow by 85 employees and spin off another 240 indirect support jobs in primary metals and installations…"

    The future is coming, it is coming fast and it is bringing opportunity. The key, according to the experts, is to be ready with policies and attitudes that foster the kind of growth available.

    Mark Winfield, professor of environmental studies, York University: "It's great that individual companies are doing this, but the potential and need is much larger than this announcement…What we need to see is a more explicit strategy on the part of the province to facilitate this kind of transition."


    Canada has lots of yellow & orange - moderate to good sun worth developing. (click to enlarge)

    Seeking a new place in the sun; Struggling auto-arts maker Woodbine is taking on work for solar-tech firm Menova
    Tyler Hamilton, May 24, 2008 (Toronto Star)

    WHO
    Woodbine Tool & Die (Tibor Urbanek, founder/president); Martinrea International Inc. (Rob Wildeboer, chair); Menova Energy Inc. (Dave Gerwing, president/founder); Wal-Mart Canada

    More specifically: Will it lift Canada's boat? (click to enlarge)

    WHAT
    As Woodbine Tool & Die’s auto parts manufacturing business falls off, solar systems manufacturer Menova has taken space in its facility and is providing work to its employees.

    WHEN
    Canadian Auto-parts production: Expected to fall for the 3rd straight year. Expected to fall 8% in 2008.

    U.S. stats could apply in Canada with the right policies. (click to enlarge)

    WHERE
    - Urbanek’s Woodbine Tool & Die is based in Markham, Ontario, just north of Toronto.
    - Auto parts manufacturing in China, Korea and other places where labor is cheaper than in Canada.
    Menova sells its solar systems internationally.
    - Wal-Mart Canada will install a Menova Power-Spar solar power and heating system on a Supercentre it is building in Markham.

    WHY
    - Martinrea International is Canada’s 2nd biggest auto parts supplier.
    - Woodbine Tool & Die had 330 employees 2 years ago and now has 220.
    - Menova will take up 20% of the Woodbine facility, 25,000 sq. ft., and use Woodbine staff.
    - The Wal-Mart Canada Menova Power-Spar solar system purchase is part of a multimillion-dollar demonstration project partly funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.
    - The Wal-Mart/Menova solar system will have an 850 kilowatt electricity capacity and an 850 kilowatt heating capacity.

    Green jobs are skilled jobs with good pay and benefits. (click to enlarge)

    QUOTES
    - Rob Wildeboer, chair, Martinrea International Inc., on the outsourcing of auto parts manufacturing work to cheaper labor markets: "[Canadian auto parts manufacturing is] getting killed…"
    - Dave Gerwing, president/founder, Menova: "We have a great shot at a global business from Ontario."
    - Tibor Urbanek, founder/president, Woodbine Tool & Die: "Physically, we are ready to expand in this new direction. We have a large enough property to renovate the building if needed…This project is exciting."

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