Business, government, utility, and industry leaders came together on June 23, 2026 for the Ottawa Board of Trade’s second annual Energy Forum to tackle one of the most important issues shaping the future of our city: how to ensure Ottawa has the reliable, affordable, and resilient energy infrastructure needed to support unprecedented growth.
Opening the forum, Ottawa Board of Trade President and CEO Sueling Ching emphasized that energy is no longer a standalone issue – it sits at the centre of conversations about housing, economic competitiveness, investment, innovation, transportation, and long-term prosperity.
With Ottawa expected to welcome an additional 500,000 residents over the next 25 years, the need to expand and modernize our energy systems has never been more urgent.
Electricity: The Backbone of Canada’s Economy
Keynote speaker Francis Bradley, President and CEO of Electricity Canada, delivered a compelling message: electricity is no longer a background issue – it is the backbone of Canada’s economy.
As demand for electricity is projected to double over the next quarter century, driven by artificial intelligence, data centres, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and industrial growth, Canada faces a nation-building challenge. Meeting this demand will require significant investments in infrastructure, workforce development, supply chains, and regulatory modernization.
Bradley highlighted the tremendous opportunity before Canada. By building the energy systems needed for the future, the country can unlock economic growth, attract investment, create jobs, and position itself as a global leader in the energy transition.
As the nation’s capital, Ottawa is uniquely positioned to help shape that future, serving as both a centre of policy leadership and a test bed for innovation in smart grids, distributed energy, and AI-enabled energy systems.
Planning for Ottawa’s Growing Energy Needs
Throughout the day, panel discussions explored what it will take to power Ottawa’s future.
The first panel focused on the investments and partnerships required to meet growing demand across the National Capital Region. Panelists discussed the critical role that electricity, natural gas, and nuclear energy will play in supporting new housing, business expansion, and economic development.
The conversation was especially timely, following the Government of Canada’s announcement of its new National Nuclear Energy Strategy, which reinforces the important role nuclear energy will play in Canada’s future energy mix.
Financing and Delivering the Energy Transition
The forum’s second panel examined the financing and delivery of the energy infrastructure required to support Ottawa’s growth.
Participants highlighted how increasing demand from AI and data centres, electrification, industrial activity, and population growth is making energy an increasingly strategic asset. Building the infrastructure necessary to meet this demand will require more than capital investment alone. Policy certainty, streamlined regulatory processes, long-term planning, and collaboration among governments, utilities, Indigenous communities, private investors, and ratepayers will all be essential.
The discussion reinforced a key theme of the day: energy infrastructure is not simply an operational issue: it is foundational to economic competitiveness, resilience, and national sovereignty.
Ottawa’s Energy Opportunity
The forum concluded with a forward-looking final panel on the opportunities ahead for Ottawa.
Panelists explored how the city’s thriving technology and cleantech sectors, collaborative business community, and innovative spirit position Ottawa to lead the energy transition. Opportunities ranging from battery storage and district energy systems to sustainable community development, waste heat recovery, and low-carbon infrastructure all point to significant potential for growth and innovation.
The discussion also underscored the importance of regulatory modernization and commercially viable innovation to ensure Ottawa can meet future energy demands while supporting housing development, economic growth, and climate objectives.
Building the Future Together
One message resonated throughout the day: meeting Ottawa’s future energy needs will require bold thinking, long-term planning, and strong partnerships across industry, government, utilities, and the broader community.
The Ottawa Board of Trade extends its sincere thanks to all of our speakers, panelists, and attendees for contributing to this important conversation and helping shape a more resilient and competitive energy future for our city.
We also extend our gratitude to our Energy Forum sponsors for making this event possible:
- Hydro Ottawa Group
- Scout Clean Energy
- BluWave-ai
- DIALOG
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kanata
- Mainspring Agency.
Together, we are helping build the energy systems that will power Ottawa’s next generation of growth and prosperity.