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The 91��������’s push to be a a global leader in energy and electricity system got a boost on July 4 with a $4.2-million funding announcement for the  (WTC) initiative. 

The WTC is a multi-year collaborative initiative launched by  to expand interprovincial transmission across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Led by UCalgary's , PhD, associate professor, department of economics in the Faculty of Arts, WTC will address regulatory, financing and co-ordination barriers through partnerships with Indigenous Nations, governments, system operators, industry and communities. The initiative aims to deliver a practical road map to improve grid reliability, affordability and energy security while advancing decarbonization and Indigenous economic participation across Canada.

The funding, announced by the Hon. Tim Hodgson, minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada, came as part of a more than $20-million funding package for the , and supports the federal government’s .

“As Canada works to build a stronger, more sovereign economy and meet growing electricity demand, strengthening connections between provincial grids has never been more important,” said Hodgson. “Our forthcoming National Electricity Strategy shares many of the goals of this project: Bringing more affordable and reliable electricity to consumers, growing Indigenous partnership, advancing clean growth, and building greater national resilience. The federal government is proud to support projects like this, which are laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity and energy security across Canada.”

Shaffer will lead the WTC project with partners from , , , , and . 

“Interprovincial transmission isn’t a new idea, but getting it done will take new approaches,” says Shaffer. 

Siloed provincial electricity mandates and markets have historically positioned provinces as competitors, not collaborators when it comes to transmission. Further, Indigenous Nations have often been treated as afterthoughts or obstacles in these projects, a practice that not only fails Canada’s commitment to Indigenous rights, but also increases development risk and leads to projects taking longer and costing more. 

The WTC initiative is designed to address these challenges directly by: (1) centring Indigenous leadership; (2) delivering independent, decision-useful modelling and analysis; and (3) facilitating interprovincial collaboration. 

“The ultimate aim of WTC’s work is to get shovels moving on projects that will create a strong, secure interconnected electricity system,” says Shaffer. “For Canadians, this means more affordable and reliable electricity that unlocks economic development, enhances our energy sovereignty, and positions industries to thrive in an increasingly electrified global economy.” 

Adds , MD, vice-president (research): “UCalgary is well positioned to be a global leader in energy and to respond to the urgent challenges facing modern electricity systems. The Western Transmission Catalysts project will break barriers to electricity transmission in western Canada.”