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Minister Lake says a Pembina LNG policy prescription 'does not make sense'

British Columbia Minister of Environment Terry Lake says Pembina Institute analyst Matt Horne got it right two out of three times when, writing in The Tyee, he listed his "musts" for the province regarding developing and shipping liquefied natural gas.

Horne wrote that provincial plans to ramp up gas extraction threaten to make impossible emissions goals set as part of the BC Liberals' climate policies. He went on to make three recommendations to limit the damage. Lake embraced two of them but dismissed part of the third -- the idea that B.C. send some revenues gained from gas extraction to buying countries so they can pay for climate protecting initiatives.

Today Minister Lake sent this email to The Tyee in response to Horne:

"Matt Horne of the Pembina Institute has outlined three musts for B.C. to follow as it pursues its liquefied natural gas strategy while staying on track to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. The first, using green renewable energy to power processes associated with LNG, is a commitment we have made wherever feasible. We should also consider employing carbon offsets to neutralize increased GHGs and I'm surprised Mr. Horne did not add this.

"The second 'must' also makes a lot of sense. Limiting GHG increases by reducing venting and flaring and using a carbon solutions technology fund to incent carbon capture should be on the table. With regards to flaring, we have achieved a 22.3 per cent decrease in levels since 2006 and a 36 per cent decrease since 1996.

"The third 'must,' however, does not make sense. Mr. Horne says we should take responsibility for GHGs produced in other countries where the gas is burned and transfer B.C. tax dollars to these jurisdictions. International carbon accounting principles do not support this approach and British Columbians would never allow their tax dollars to be sent overseas.

"LNG represents an opportunity of a lifetime for B.C. that can provide climate solutions for Asia, high-paying jobs for British Columbians and revenue to support healthcare and education, as well as the continued development of B.C.'s successful clean energy industry."

-David Beers is editor of The Tyee


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