John Risley on his big green hydrogen bet

This week on WONK, host Edward Greenspon talks to John Risley.

John Risley is best known for his by-the-bootstraps creation of global seafood giant Clearwater — and for orchestrating its sale to a coalition of First Nations. The self-made billionaire’s next big project is as chairman of World Energy GH2, which plans to build a massive green hydrogen project on Newfoundland’s west coast. He talks to host Edward Greenspon about why the project could be revolutionary, what keeps him anchored in Atlantic Canada and why he went to “wind farm academy.”

Listen now anywhere you get your podcasts.

Listen to more great conversations on WONK 

• Trevor Tombe, economic truth-teller, is kind of a big deal right now
• ‘The fascinating economist’ Craig Wright, on the role of a big bank forecaster
• Mark Podlasly on the really big news hidden in Budget 2024
• New OECD chief economist Álvaro Santos Pereira on fixing productivity
• Emera CEO Scott Balfour on the urgent energy transition
• Halifax Mayor Mike Savage on how a big city keeps up with growth
• Head of Canadian Olympic Committee David Shoemaker on how to win at the Olympics
• Rupa Banerjee: What does Canada really want from immigration?
• Beverley McLachlin on problems with the online harms bill
• John Hannaford on historic challenges facing the public service
• JP Gladu on the rise of big Indigenous business, and life on Lake Nipigon
• Paul Wells on building a news empire, and not being mean
• Shingai Manjengwa on why we shouldn’t fear AI
• Dr. Vivek Goel on building a better health system
• Anne McLellan on how to handle being a Liberal in Alberta
• Chief Crystal Smith on what LNG means for the Haisla Nation
• Marc Garneau on the highs and lows of space exploration
• Peter Nicholson on Atlantic Canada’s great energy transition
• Jayna Hefford on launching the Professional Women’s Hockey League
• Jeff Elgie on the Google deal and his fight to save local news
• Bob Rae on tough times at the UN and Canada’s diplomatic efforts

Listen anywhere you get your podcasts. | Watch for new episodes on Thursdays.