The Pulse
Oct. 15, 2026

Azolla Hydrogen is bringing longer-range hydrogen fuel back to Edmonton after an American company's 700-bar station closed and was sold off during bankruptcy proceedings.

"Three years ago, hydrogen was supposed to solve all problems, and there was a lot of hype around it," Chad Badry, Azolla's vice-president of business development, told Taproot in September. "There were a lot of people talking about doing things that they probably shouldn't have been, because they didn't really know (what they were doing), and they just wanted to be part of that hype."

Badry wasn't talking specifically about Nikola, the company that operated a 700-bar fueller at Blackjacks Roadhouse for less than a year between 2024 and 2025, but the situation he described maps well onto what happened there. Even though Nikola admitted to faking some of its vehicle demonstrations in 2020 and founder Trevor Milton was sentenced to four years in prison for fraud in 2023, the station Nikola built at the Nisku roadhouse opened with significant fanfare in March 2024. Less than a year later, Nikola filed for bankruptcy protection, and the station came down shortly afterward. Milton went on to be pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump, and he is now appealing the bankruptcy claim of US$70 million.

Azolla is bringing 700 bar fuelling back to Edmonton with a $12.5-million project, $3 million of which will come from Emissions Reduction Alberta.

The return of 700-bar means trucks and other hydrogen vehicles will be able to travel twice as far as the average of 280 kilometres that 350-bar fuel makes possible. The latter "isn't enough to even get between Calgary and Edmonton," said Badry, who has worked in business development for Linde, Svante, OnQuest, and Air Liquide.

The Alberta Motor Transport Association confirmed that less-than-700-bar fuelling from Azolla at the time limited the tests it could conduct under its Alberta Zero Emission Truck Electrification Collaboration: "AMTA did use fuel from Azolla for the (AZETEC) project," AMTA's Terri Johnson told Taproot in an email. "Unfortunately, the fuel that was available in Alberta was at 350 bar — meaning that we were only able to fill to 50% and achieve ranges of 280 km with the vehicles deployed in Alberta." The AZETEC project was supported by $7.3 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta.

Calgary-based Azolla, which produces hydrogen from methanol, has a strong track record, Badry said. Azolla fuelled the first of Canadian Pacific Kansas City's hydrogen trains, and has worked with the City of Edmonton on a hydrogen-bus pilot that began in late 2023. Edmonton city council's executive committee voted unanimously on Oct. 2 to extend its agreement with Azolla for three years, while keeping spending details confidential to fulfill its obligations for third-party financial information.

The $3 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta for Azolla to grow its fuelling options will also include a 350-bar fueller in Calgary, extending the hydrogen corridor in Alberta. Azolla is also working with the City of Winnipeg. But Edmonton has a special place in Azolla's heart, Badry said, as the partnership has led to further opportunities, and its agreement allows Azolla to use the infrastructure for the private sector.

"Being in industry for over 27 years, I would say (the City of Edmonton has) been, quite honestly, one of the best clients I've ever seen," Badry told Taproot. "They're transparent. They're supportive. They've got a mandate. They're working in that direction. They're communicating about it."

Indeed, Badry credits Azolla's relationship with Edmonton for progress in Winnipeg — and beyond. "(Winnipeg) trusted us to do what we needed to do because they saw what we did in Edmonton," he said. "Now, Edmonton is asking for a second plant, and we're doing that. We've got opportunities worldwide now."

• Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said the city still lacked written instructions for the province's ordered zoning rollback a week after the directive was announced, despite a three-month compliance deadline. BILD Edmonton Metro said it was also waiting for written directives, but that City of Edmonton administration said existing rules remain in effect until council enacts new bylaws.
• The Edmonton Police Service reported that average crime severity in its downtown Crime Treatment Zone fell 13.6% from January through September compared with the same period in 2025. It attributed improvements to targeted enforcement and said it would expand the approach while maintaining downtown coverage. CBC reported that experts cautioned enforcement alone would not solve underlying problems.
• Edmonton city council's community and public services committee will consider a proposed community bylaw court that would waive eligible participants' fines and connect them with services. Administration estimated annual costs of about $1.17 million, with a late-2027 launch contingent on council funding and provincial court participation. The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness opposed the court approach, arguing an administrative process could waive fines without criminalizing poverty. "We don't need to put people in a courtroom in order to get their tickets rescinded," coalition board member David Rivera-Kohr said.
• An 18-year-old motorcyclist is facing charges of dangerous driving causing death and injury after crashing into an Edmonton bus stop at 120 Avenue and 97 Street on Oct. 13. The Edmonton Police Service alleges the motorcyclist had been racing a BMW that fled the scene before the striking four pedestrians shortly before 9pm. A 21-year-old man later died in hospital, while a 46-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman suffered serious injuries; the woman's 10-month-old baby was hospitalized with potentially life-threatening injuries. The motorcyclist was not seriously hurt, and police are seeking information about the BMW driver.
• The City of Edmonton reopened 34 Street between Roper Road and 64 Avenue after replacing the Fulton Creek culvert near Pylypow Wetlands. The City said crews completed the work about a month ahead of schedule.
• The Edmonton Police Service charged a 29-year-old man in connection with a tent slashing at the Edmonton Heritage Festival in August. Edmonton police said the incident happened around 3pm on Aug. 3, when the man allegedly climbed a metal security fence surrounding the Israel pavilion and cut the tent with a knife. Security guards detained the suspect until police arrived and arrested him. Police said their investigation found insufficient evidence that the incident was motivated by hate. Abdimalik Jama faces charges of mischief under $5,000 and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
• More than half of Alberta physicians surveyed by the Alberta Medical Association say they would leave the province and stop practising there if Alberta separates from Canada. Of the 1,649 respondents, 55% said they would move to another province or territory, while 8% said they would retire or leave medicine earlier than planned. Only 15% said they would remain in Alberta and continue practising, while 18% were undecided.
• Premier Danielle Smith said she voted for Alberta to remain in Canada in advance voting for the Oct. 19 referendum. She urged voters to support the other nine proposals on immigration and constitutional reform. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi urged voters to reject those proposals and vote to stay in Canada. Elections Alberta said nearly 175,000 Albertans voted in the first day of advance polls on Oct. 13.
• Some voters at advance polling stations for the Alberta referendum say Elections Alberta staff told them to cover clothing displaying Canadian or Alberta symbols, Postmedia reported. Elections Alberta said that it had received no reports of such incidents but had instructed staff not to prohibit the attire. It said flags and slogans such as "Celebrate Alberta" or "Celebrate Canada" do not constitute referendum advertising on their own. Advance voting continues until Oct. 17, ahead of the main voting day on Oct. 19.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• YEG Sponsorship Socials - Part IV starting at 4pm at CKUA
• Startup TNT Happy Hour starting at 4:30pm at Fawkes Café & Bakery
• ERINnovation Meetup: Where Health Innovation Meets Simulation starting at 4:30pm at NAIT (Feltham Centre)
• On Treason starting at 5pm at Citadel Theatre
• Design coLab by Alair starting at 5pm at 14045 156 Street NW
• Business Awards of Distinction Gala starting at 6pm at Heritage Park Pavilion
• The Cycle starting at 6:30pm at Garneau Theatre
• Deconstructing Us: The Secrets of our DNA starting at 7pm at Citadel Theatre
• Book Launch with Becca Babcock starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• What Are People For? Design Philosophy by Patrick Whitney starting at 7pm at Citadel Theatre
• Busch Trio starting at 7:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Church

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Nov. 6: 37th Annual ASTech Awards Gala and Innovation Showcase at Westin Edmonton
• Nov. 12: Startup TNT: Top 5 Finale Night starting at 6pm at Citadel Theatre
• Nov. 21: Make Believe Ball starting at 6pm at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Need a hint for 6-Across? You'll find it here.