“Green what to turn to?” | The Montreal Journal

In Quebec, 70% of greenhouse gas emissions are due to energy consumption and production. To decarbonize Quebec and support the sustainable growth of its economy, it is important to focus on different clean and renewable energy sources. Fortunately, there are solutions, and this is what the experts invited by the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) explain to you in the podcast Green what to turn?

A MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST

In the company of host Valérie Chevalier, meet experts and scientists who paint an informed portrait of the energy sectors of the future. The host admits that she is far from being an energy transition specialist! For example, before launching into the animation of Vert what to turn?, she did not know, like many Quebecers, that fossil fuels, responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, represent half of Quebec’s energy consumption.

“This podcast is aimed at the general public, and I am in a way their voice!,” explains Valérie Chevalier. I questioned the experts and researchers with my ignorance and my curiosity, and I learned a host of things which today allow me to better understand the challenges, the issues of this energy transition.

“I find the Ministry’s initiative really relevant. We know the importance of fighting climate change, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, but we know little about the different energy avenues available to us. This podcast is an information and demystification tool on the issues of this fight, and on our options to respond to them.” — Valérie Chevalier

AN ILLUMINATING OVERVIEW

This series, presented in audio and video format in 10 episodes of approximately 30 minutes, answers many questions, including: Are all energy resources equivalent to satisfy our needs and replace polluting energies? Can hydroelectricity meet all our needs? Do solar panels work well in winter? Are wind turbines noisy? Can fried potato oil be converted into biofuel? Is nuclear power of interest? Where is Quebec located from an energy point of view?

The first episode takes stock of the situation with distinguished guests, including Isabelle St-Germain, director at the Biosphere, and Pierre-Olivier Pineau, professor at HEC and winner of the 2024 Hubert-Reeves literary prize for his book Energy balance.

The other episodes explore the energy sectors of the future — hydroelectricity, wind, solar, forest biomass, liquid and gaseous bioenergies, green hydrogen, nuclear power, storage solutions and transport of energy. energy.

Finally, the last episode concludes on the need to rely on different sources of clean and renewable energy to succeed in the energy transition and thus meet our energy needs. Luis Calzado, president and CEO of the Quebec Renewable Energy Production Association; Emna Braham, President and CEO of the Institut du Québec, and Louis Simard, professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa, shed light on these vital issues with their expertise.

“It was very interesting to meet these specialists who are authorities in their field,” says Valérie Chevalier. They popularize concepts, give us an overview of what is coming and thus allow us to be better informed on crucial issues for our future. I am now an informed and equipped citizen!”

WHERE, WHEN, HOW?

The first episodes of the podcast Green what to turn? have been available since January 15 in audio format on the Amazon and Apple Podcasts platforms, and in audio and video formats on Spotify and YouTube. The following episodes will be posted there until March 5, at the rate of one episode per week.