A power grid is a series of connections that delivers electricity from where it’s generated (e.g. a wind farm, hydroelectricity dam, solar farm) to where it’s used.

Right now Canada doesn’t have a national electricity grid. Grids are operated provincially, there’s a lack of inter-provincial connections which means we can’t share and distribute electricity nation-wide. Because of this there’s also different approaches to transmission and distribution.

The main benefit is so that the grid is under public control vs. private, and therefore can put public good at the core of its purpose – to generate affordable, accessible energy for people across Canada (vs. delivering profit or shareholder returns).

Renewable energy is energy from natural sources that can be regenerated as the energy is also used. E.g. wind, solar, hydro. It contrasts with non-renewable energy, e.g. oil and gas, that takes millions of years to form and can’t be regenerated.

It’s low-emission (i.e. using renewable energy doesn’t emit carbon or contribute to climate change), is cheap and reliable. Moreover, investing in national electricity infrastructure has the potential to create thousands of jobs and boost our economy.