Environmental groups criticized the British Columbia government's push to increase energy exports in a set of six recommendations released this morning.
“Under current direction from government exports could grow significantly,” noted the six-page paper written by the David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, Watershed Watch Salmon Society and West Coast Environmental Law and endorsed by 25 B.C. groups.
That shouldn't happen without a “meaningful public dialogue” about the terms and conditions under which exports of renewable electricity “should occur, if they should occur at all,” they said.
Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom told the Tyee in August that the government was supportive of developing an export-based renewable energy industry, a commitment also made in the throne speech.
Other recommendations included making energy conservation and efficiency the top priority, strengthening the environmental assessment process and planning in a way that limits environmental, social and economic impacts while maximizing public benefit.
“The opposition caucus is endorsing these recommendations as a good first step,” said New Democratic Party energy critic John Horgan. “I'm glad to see groups like Pembina and Suzuki putting aside the carbon tax for two minutes to talk about other issues that are important to British Columbians.”
Horgan said he supports exporting surplus energy, but argued against building new capacity purely for export. “To build to export means we're putting our natural environment at risk so others won't have to make the tough choices on protecting their environment.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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freebear
2 years ago
No what are needed
are more greenwash, meaminingless awards to BC and the Premier from these engos!
These engos are the same ones praisiing Campbells uneffective carbon tax and giving him and award (diregrading the carbon tax exemptions also)!
Luke
2 years ago
Renewable Energy Exports...
Is a great idea and would inject $billions$ of investment dollars into the economy and $millions$ more into government coffers.
Everyone wants lower taxes - well renewable energy exports is one of the sectors that should be encouraged.
Hydro Quebec constructs hydro-electric dams for that purpose and so does Manitoba Hydro under their New Democrat administration.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/04/17/hydro-deal.html
These guys "get it".
Frank
2 years ago
Energy exports
Would go to the top 10% and their foreign buddies and everyone else would get squat except the bill for cleanup costs.
North of Hope
2 years ago
self sufficient and sustainable
BC and Canada should be self sufficient and sustainable in energy as well. We have to look at how we are going to get our energy. We must do a complete and thorough study of all ways we can generate energy, whether it be hydro, coal, solar, geothermal, wind, nuclear, wood, biofuels, gas or any other source of energy. All methods must be examined in public and these results must be made public. Only after such a study can we use an energy source. We must do this so our energy sources are sustainable and not harmful to the environment.
realisticman
2 years ago
Energy Exports
"Under the current system of wealth redistribution in Canada, Albertans paid an estimated $21.1 billion-- or $5,742 per person--more to the feds than they got back in federal services in 2009, according to Alberta Finance stats."
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Gary+Lamphier+Alberta+puts+billions+into+coffers+Canada+oilsands+bashers/2306030/story.html
That's not squat.
Janie Jones
2 years ago
Too little, too late
Isn't it a little late for Hoggan/Suzuki to start waving their hands around in the air after already getting on board 100% with the privatization of BC's watershed for exportable energy?
The profits will be going to the Liberal party insiders who have climbed on board with the power companies, first nations and shareholders.
Most of the jobs with be going to US military industrial contractor Kiewit their out of province/country employees although there will be some spin off in the nearest communities to the projects during the construction phase but then, that's it.
The rest of us will be shut out, in the cold trying to figure out how we're going to pay our increasingly expensive transportation, medical and hydro bills.
seth
2 years ago
Nuke Burrard thermal
We could replace Burrard Thermal with 6 nukes,doubling BCHydro's capacity, creating lots of electricity for electric cars and to replace GHG producing natural gas. The excess we could export to the US for twice our cost paying for the complex.
One nuke alone costing $2B would replace all of Gordo's $55B in Pirate Power Purchases (3p's)
Frank
2 years ago
realisticman
Your post had nothing to do with what I said.
lucypearson
2 years ago
Dialogue Forum on Clean Green Energy
West Coast Environmental Law is hosting a public Dialogue Forum on Emerging Solutions for Clean Green Power on January 11, 2010 at the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue - Asia Pacific Hall. www.wcel.org
circle A
2 years ago
You asked for it...
You got it! Too bad our country club enviornmentalists were so busy kissing campbells er... ring at election time.suzuki, berman, pembina are a bunch of dupes who are now on the corporate payroll.campbell won`t lose any sleep worrying about what a timid bunch of lapdogs like our enviro`s say.
Adam M
2 years ago
Thanks guys
This sure to be ignored set of recommendations really compensates for your muddying the waters last election. Cut down on the energy exports, Mr.Campbell! Ha ha, his crew have only been planning this for decades!
On the plus side, big investment opportunities in BC "Green" energy now! I hear these companies have conned that podunk backwoods province into buying energy for double the going rate, and selling prime, in perpetuity tenures for like, $200! What a bunch of grade A idiots!
morechatter
2 years ago
Is the fondation being paid off by Oil Companies?
As a society we put the cart before the horse in more ways than one. Leaders do not care about the planet but profit as governments trade off the poor for the indiscretions of the rich. Take BC for instance with a land developer premier who has real estate prices skyrocket while wages stay at the bottom of the pit and where there is little money for other business. Did the poor reducing their consumption help the environment? No as as consumption is up there for Oil and Gas ard up significantly for major food chains so ditto done for the environment but profits are up significantly and so is the pollution. We need to change that as profit driven business men fill the seats of government. Where the money stays on top and the only thing trickling down is corruption as its plain to see in our very systems as transparency and accountability are non-existent. And these awards that are given out by environmentalists need to be bought with more care as the very credibility of the entire organization is up for question as the discriminatory tax is favored by big Oil Companies. Only problem it isn't working as consumption is up and companies are working overtime to help create more pollution.
morechatter
2 years ago
And on the Tech Side of things
There is a new battery that gives you more mileage and is more compact and will help reduce pollution. Where did societies go wrong was it when companies favored machines over man power as it proved more cost effective for business? Allowing investors more pollution for their investment buck.