1/In this innocent tweet, Mr. Chomyn (a prominent Alberta UCP conservative) exposes for all to see what is wrong with the conservative energy worldview:

He misunderstands the fundamentals of the energy transition.

This is a big deal, Albertans. https://twitter.com/Citizen004/status/1357893070621052928

2/What's really happening:

The global energy system is being transformed by a vast army of new energy technologies centred on clean, abundant, and cheap electricity.

Wind, solar, batteries, and EVs are just the tip of the iceberg.

There are thousands more behind the scenes.

3/What conservatives think is happening:

That the energy transition is driven by policy.

Which, in turn, is driven by govts.

It follows, then, that political ideology and political action are to blame for Alberta's woes.

Change govts, you save AB's oil/gas economy.

4/Conservatives think that if they can defeat the "radical leftist eco-terrorists" influencing politicians like Justin Trudeau, they can stop or seriously slow down the energy transition.

That's why they deny climate change and why they extoll the virtues of fossil fuels.

5/I interviews hundreds of energy/climate experts from around the world every year.

When you combine the dramatic cost declines of new energy tech (eg batteries with huge investments in new industries (eg EV mfging) combined with rapidly changing consumer preferences...

6/...it's easy to see that govts aren't the big issue.

I can confidently say that AB conservatives like Chomyn haven't got a clue what is coming for Alberta.

The energy transition is going to punch Alberta in the face, steal its lunch $, and leave it crying in the schoolyard.

7/Sadly, it doesn't have to be this way. There is still time for Alberta to adapt and pivot to the low-carbon future, perhaps even preserve much of its hydrocarbon economy.

But the window is rapidly closing.

And conservatives like Chomyn are to blame for the inaction.

Chad gets it.

Albertans, be like Chad.