Energy regulator’s shocking rejection of BC Hydro energy plan
Media Release
For immediate release: July 29, 2009
Energy regulator’s shocking rejection of BC Hydro energy plan
VICTORIA, BC – On Monday, the BC Utilities Commission rejected BC Hydro’s 2008 Long-Term Acquisition Plan, which has been under review for the last year.
“We are surprised and concerned at the Utilities Commission decision to reject BC Hydro’s long-term energy plan,” said Tom Hackney, Vice-President for Policy of the BC Sustainable Energy Association. “BC needs to develop its renewable energy resources if it is to move off fossil fuel dependency, and BC Hydro’s plan was going in that direction. This decision undermines that.”
A key part of the Commission’s decision was its rejection of BC Hydro’s proposal to down-rate the Burrard Thermal Generating Station to 3,000 Gigawatt-hours per year of energy. The Commission strongly suggested that Hydro consider relying on Burrard for 5,000 GWh/y.
“The Burrard Generating Station is an old, inefficient, polluting technology, located in a confined air-shed with many people and serious air quality problems,” said Hackney. “It is troubling that the Commission should reject Hydro’s plan to reduce reliance on Burrard.”
Although the Commission approved the spending of $418 million to implement BC Hydro’s energy conservation and efficiency plans, it nevertheless rejected the plan itself.
“This decision is clearly not a win for the environment and our fight against climate change,” said Naomi Devine, BCSEA Director. “It is a serious step backward in BC’s transition off of fossil fuels and our journey toward a sustainable future. The Commission does not seem to be taking seriously government's climate change policies and our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Because the Commission second-guessed Hydro on the energy rating of Burrard Thermal and rejected Hydro’s conservation plans, they then concluded that the case to justify the 3,000 Gigawatt-hour per year Clean Energy Call had not been met,” said Hackney. “This introduces unfortunate uncertainty into the industry. It would have been better had the Commission accepted the plan and called for Hydro to correct any errors with the filing of its next energy plan.”
The BC Sustainable Energy Association (www.bcsea.org) is a non-profit society that envisions a future in which all of BC's energy needs are met with clean, efficient, renewable energies. We actively promote sustainable energy in BC through practical projects, education and policy development.
For more information, contact:
Tom Hackney 250-381-4463
Guy Dauncey 250-881-1304
