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City of Medicine Hat joins the Next Generation Energy Innovation Challenge
MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat City Council voted in favour of investing $850,000 to participate in the Next Generation Energy Innovation Challenge on Monday. The challenge is a three-year project that is designed to develop capacity that supports Alberta energy transition and diversify the energy economy.
Spearheaded by Decentralized Energy Canada (DEC), the challenge leverages provincial and federal investment in demonstration projects to create jobs and improve the competitiveness of Alberta’s energy industry. The challenge aligns with City Council’s strategic priorities of supporting and implementing energy transition opportunities to meet the federal government’s Emissions Reduction Plan and net-zero decarbonization targets.
According to Director of Utility Distribution Systems Grayson Mauch, Medicine Hat is known as an innovator within the energy field demonstrated through past initiatives such as early adoption of natural gas electrical generation, automated metering infrastructure, the award-winning HAT Smart program, and numerous other projects undertaken over the years.
“This innovative spirit attracts other like-minded organizations to our community seeking energy-based project and collaboration opportunities. It was only natural that the DEC would consider Medicine Hat as a project partner for this challenge,” Mauch said in a statement.