No Energy Superpower Without Rural Innovation

Last week, I was invited to speak on a panel at the Canadian Nuclear Association West Conference titled “Looking Ahead: Western Canada’s Nuclear Innovation.” The panel included Greg Twinney, CEO of General Fusion, and Stephen Bushby, Vice-President of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, moderated by Anne Ballantyne, Manager of the Prairies Economic Development Forum.

While I’ve done a fair share of public speaking, this one had me nervous. My background doesn’t mirror that of my co-panelists. But as the discussion unfolded, it became clear that the work we’re doing at the Southeast Techhub (SETH) in Southeast Saskatchewan is not just relevant—it’s vital to Canada’s energy future.

Every Electron Comes From a Rural Community

One phrase I often use is: “Every electron, every molecule of energy in Canada comes from a rural community.” It’s not just rhetoric—it’s reality. From uranium mining to wind, oil, and solar, rural regions are the backbone of Canada’s energy system.

That also means every major energy transition, including small modular reactors (SMRs), hydrogen,  and renewables, will be built in rural regions. But there’s a fundamental problem: many of these same communities are excluded from innovation.

The Digital Divide: More Than an Internet Problem

When we talk about Canada’s “digital divide,” we usually think about broadband access. And yes, it’s true that only about 50% of rural households meet the federal internet speed standard, compared to over 90% in cities (Statistics Canada, 2022).

But the deeper issue isn’t just infrastructure—it’s participation. The OECD (2023) and SSHRC (2021) both note that when rural communities lack access to digital skills training, technology education, and innovation programs, they become spectators in the very sectors that rely on them most.

In other words, the divide doesn’t just limit economic opportunity—it limits critical thinking capacity in the modern sense.

If a community has no access to computer science, robotics, or AI education, how can its residents truly understand or evaluate a proposal for a new data centre, hydrogen hub, or nuclear plant?

It’s not about intelligence—it’s about exposure. The ability to think critically about technology comes from interacting with it, not just hearing about it at a town hall.

Why It Matters

Let’s be honest: if a large energy company walks into a rural community that’s never been consulted, never trained, and never included, and says, “We’re going to build a massive nuclear plant here — it’ll be great for you,” what’s the likely response?

Suspicion. Distrust. Resistance.

Now imagine that same community where residents have access to digital training, where young people have built robots and coded software, where the town understands what AI and automation mean in real terms. Suddenly, when a project is proposed, the community can engage intelligently. They can ask hard questions, interpret data, and participate in decisions that affect their future.

That’s what rural innovation really is — not just tech projects or coworking spaces, but building the local capacity to think, question, and create.

What We’re Doing About It

At SETH, that’s our focus. When we build a three-foot robot with students and community members, we’re not just teaching robotics. We’re giving people the experience to make informed decisions about automation, industry, and technology.

When we advocate to bring computer science education back into the region, it’s not just about training software developers. It’s about helping rural residents understand the tools that increasingly shape our world.

“Rural innovation hubs aren’t charity. They’re strategy.”

They make Canada’s energy transition possible — because projects move faster and face less resistance when people understand them.

The Bigger Picture

Canada stands at a crossroads. We can either remain a resource supplier to others—or become an energy superpower. That outcome will depend not just on what gets built, but on who gets to understand it.

Rural innovation ensures that the people closest to the energy are also closest to the opportunity. And that’s how you build a country that doesn’t just extract resources—but creates the future.

Because….

“There will be no Energy Superpower without Rural Innovation.”

References

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). Unlocking rural innovation. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/4113a863-en

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). (2021). Knowledge synthesis: Rural innovation and place-based development. Government of Canada. https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

Statistics Canada. (2022). Access to internet services by geography, 2022. Government of Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca

Marshall, A., & Brown, R. (2020). Innovation and the rural context: A review of rural innovation research. Journal of Rural Studies, 78, 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.06.003

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (UK). (2022). Sizewell C project overview. UK Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sizewell-c-project