POWERS ORWARD Political winds may shift, but renewable energy is rapidly moving into the mainstream Renewable energy has always lurked in the shadow of fossil fuels. It has long been regarded as an ancillary energy source that is rooted in the green movement. But over the last few years-at a time when a renewed push toward coal and oil has become politically fashionable-renewable energy has suddenly powered its way into the mainstream. "The technology has advanced, and the cost of producing renewables has dropped. We are now at the point where renewable energy is sometimes a better investment than conventional energy," says David Bernier, vice president of the power division at Stantec. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019 ENGINEERING INC. 19