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Environmentalists stunned by failures of key measures in Legislature
By Evan Halper, Marc Lifsher and Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times, September 2, 2010
Activists expected big gains, but a ban on plastic grocery bags, another on a chemical used in baby bottles and a bid to boost alternative energy fell short in the face of heavy industry opposition.
"Pacific Gas & Electric ultimately worked to scuttle the bill, because it would have prohibited the company from counting power it buys from Canadian hydropower plants toward the proposed 33% goal." |
Glacier-Howser power project back on frontburner
Nelson Star, August 30, 2010
The proponents of the Glacier-Howser independent power project have resubmitted their application to B.C.’s environmental assessment office, in a move already being slammed by the NDP.
A public review of the 100-megawatt proposal has been on hold since last year when the office asked Axor Corp. to better explain how they would protect fish habitat. A revised submission has now been put forth, but Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall says the environment minister should nip it in the bud.
Tyson Lake - Tyson Creek - Tzoonie River update
Daniel Bouman, Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, August 20, 2010
The SCCA has published an update about the Tyson Lake - Tyson Creek - Tzoonie River situation on its website www.thescca.ca. it has also put up the Order that the Water Stewardship Division gave to the company last April 24 which clarifies a number of details about what happened.
“Electron Laundering”: how British Columbia sells coal energy to California and calls it “green”
Chuck DeVore, California State Assemblyman, chuckdevore.com, August 14, 2010
California and the International Green Energy Racket
Last week, the premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell, paid a visit to the California State Legislature. He spoke at length about his province’s green energy partnership with California in supplying California with electricity while helping the state meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Gordon Campbell addresses the California Assembly
Gordon Campbell, California Assembly, August 12, 2010
In all, the Premier's address took just over five minutes. The picture shows he was speaking to a pretty empty room.
The theme: BC is honoured to be participating with California in the Western Climate Initiative, and some bumpf about BC's green energy.
A quote from JFK, a quote from Goethe. About acting on your hopes, and being bold.
Then a bunch of thank-yous to the assembly and the state. Kinda like the Oscars.
Largest source of independent power in B.C. goes on the grid
SCOTT SIMPSON, Vancouver Sun, August 10, 2010
$663-million Toba run-of-river project outperforms many BC Hydro facilities
Plutonic Power passed a milestone for its Toba Inlet projects on Monday with the commencement of full-scale power delivery to BC Hydro.
BC's Largest Independent Run-Of-River Hydro Project Starts Generating Clean Power
News Release, Plutonic Power Corp., August 9, 2010
VANCOUVER, BC - August 9, 2010 - Plutonic Power Corporation (TSX: PCC) and GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), announced today that their Toba Montrose General Partnership ("TMGP") has commenced selling electricity to BC Hydro under an Electricity Purchase Agreement ("EPA") from power generated by the East Toba River and Montrose Creek generation facilities.
BC Hydro reveals contract prices for new power
Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, August 3, 2010
Independents contracted for average of $124 per megawatt hour for firm electricity
BC Hydro will pay an average $100 per megawatt hour in new electricity contracts with independent power producers, the Crown corporation said Tuesday.
That price includes payments as low as $76.20 per megawatt hour for non-firm or intermittent power purchases from wind farms and run of river hydro facilities in months of low electricity demand.
Staking out B.C.’s place in a clean energy market
Rebecca Lindall, Globe and Mail, July 29, 2010
David Parkins for the Globe and Mail |
Will the Clean Energy Act clear the way for British Columbia to become a significant exporter of clean energy?
California likely won't water down hydro requirements
Sean Holman, Public Eye, July 13, 2010
A former California assemblyman who spearheaded an effort to increase the use of green energy has said he doesn't think it's likely his state will count British Columbia's run-of-the-river power as renewable.
California's Big 'No' to British Columbia
By Sean Holman, TheTyee.ca, July 8, 2010
Lobbying effort to get 'renewable energy' approval from state's politicians came up empty.
The provincial government has been pushing California to count the electricity generated by British Columbia's independent run-of-the-river power projects as renewable energy -- allowing it be sold at a premium to the state's electric utilities.
Federal Review Panel Issues Environmental Assessment Report for Prosperity Mine Project
the relevance of this item is to point out that a federal panel review will effectively recommend against a project. The panel also observes that "information was presented to the Panel that was not available to the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office."
News Release, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, July 2, 2010
Economic prosperity of first nations hangs in the balance
By Fred Glendale And Dallas Smith, Vancouver Sun, June 14, 2010
The Da'naxda'xw, K'omoks and Campbell River first nations have a vision to create one of the most sustainable clean energy developments in North America.
The Kleana run-of-river hydroelectric project, proposed on our traditional territories on B.C.'s central coast, would provide enough clean electricity to power 230,000 homes.
It's a $2.5-billion economic investment that would provide lasting economic and social benefits to coastal communities and all British Columbians.
Clean Energy Act will cost British Columbians
By Marvin Shaffer, Vancouver Sun, June 14, 2010
New legislation to force energy 'self-sufficiency' on BC Hydro flies under the radar as the hated HST garners public attention
While the HST has captured all the attention, the province's passage of the Clean Energy Act in the recent legislative session is a far more serious matter.
The act will impose billions of dollars of unnecessary costs on British Columbians. It is, simply put, bad legislation.
Anti–IPP campaign focuses on Wood River
Katie Findlay, Revelstoke Times Review, June 12, 2010
“Let’s look after our backyard,” said James Knoop at an event hosted by the North Columbia Environmental Society on Monday, June 7.
Wilderness Committee decries IPPs
Jenny Wagler/Staff Writer, Coast Reporter, June 4, 2010
The Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) decried independent power projects (IPPs) as “a scam of epic proportions” to a packed gathering of Coast residents at Roberts Creek Community Hall Thursday evening, May 27, at an event co-hosted by the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of B.C. (COSCO).
BC's Energy Independence? Don't Believe It
By Will McMartin, TheTyee.ca, May 31, 2010
Minister Lekstrom is wrong. Most new energy projects controlled by big firms outside BC.
Blair Lekstrom, B.C.'s minister of energy, mines and petroleum resources, is a small-town guy with small-town values. Self-reliance and entrepreneurship are his watchwords, especially when it comes to the generation of electricity.
BC government hit with lawsuit after rejecting independent power project
By SCOTT SIMPSON, Vancouver Sun, May 28, 2010
VANCOUVER — Proponents of a stalled $2.5 billion independent power project on the central British Columbia coast are suing the province in hopes of getting their 600 megawatt hydro development back on track.
Is This Any Way to Finance Clean Energy?
By Will McMartin, TheTyee.ca, 17 May 2010
BC Hydro borrows capital at 1 per cent, private power firms pay 12 per cent or more. Campbell chose builders sure to make green power far more expensive.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," wrote George Santayana, the Spanish-American philosopher.
Pollution worries halt power project
SCOTT SIMPSON, Vancouver Sun, May 17, 2010
Company struggles with cloudy water while critics portray plant's problems as evidence of lax regulation
Renewable Power Corp.’s Gabe Sentlinger measures the flow of the Tzoonie River as part of calibration for a meter installed to measure cloudiness. The company’s independent power project has been shut down over fears it is polluting a salmon stream. (Photograph by: Files, Vancouver Sun) |
General Electric and BC's Private Power Gold Rush
Will McMartin, The Tyee, May 12, 2010
When cash-poor Finavera needed backers for its Peace River wind farms, who stepped up? First, an aging Irish tycoon cut his sweet deal, then giant GE gained the 'lions share' of profits
Are you passionate about B.C. politics? If so, you might be able to use the following skill-testing question to amaze your friends, confound your enemies and be a hit at cocktail parties.
One deal dies, another benefits?
Editorial, Courier-Islander, May 12, 2010
It would be unfair to say that the private power project cancelled for the Klinaklini River is the same as the Plutonic Power project proposed for the head of the Bute Inlet.
But it would be safe to say both are huge and would forever alter the environment in which they locate.
It is strange on one hand that Environment Minister Barry Penner, in cancelling the Klinaklini power project, said it would cause too much damage and alterations to the existing environment.
BC Hydro pulls plug on Klinaklini River power project
Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail, May 06, 2010
Environment Minister had opposed changing boundaries of nature conservancy to facilitate proposal
A proposed $2.5-billion run-of-river project on the Klinaklini River is dead, dropped from BC Hydro's roster for clean-power contracts one day after Environment Minister Barry Penner vowed to oppose the scheme.
The Kleana power project would have generated two-thirds as much energy as the massive Site C dam that the provincial government has approved on the Peace River.
Klinaklini will not breach conservancies, will not get EPA: Penner
Claire Trevena and Barry Penner, Hansard, May 6, 2010
C. Trevena: I thank the minister for that answer. I'd like to move on to my last topic with the minister, and that is the issue of independent power projects and, particularly, the Klinaklini project that is being developed. It's a very specific question: whether, when these projects are being developed, land conservancies will be respected in the development of those projects. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
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