2010 BC Budget: BC still struggling to find the new economy path

VICTORIA, BC—The 2010 budget recommits to the successful Live Smart retrofit program, but fails to take the bigger steps necessary to transition to the new, green economy of the future, says Tom Hackney, Vice-President of Policy for the BC Sustainable Energy Association.

“$35 million to continue the successful Live Smart building retrofits program is a welcome step, retrofitting about 20,000 more houses,” said Mr. Hackney. “This program needs to be embedded in a bold vision to energy-retrofit 100,000 buildings for the next 20 years, – which would address the entire existing BC building stock – leveraging the grant program with regulatory and policy changes.”

BC must empower BC Hydro to provide financing that can be repaid on utility bills to unlock the private sector’s power. BC needs new regulations to upgrade efficiency standards on appliances and certification programs to build the green workforce for tomorrow. These and a variety of other policy and regulatory energy efficiency measures would create thousands of jobs in communities throughout the province, while encouraging significant private sector investments. This is the kind of green stimulus investment that would spur BC’s economy while also helping us meet our greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets.

“We see $100 million for climate action and clean energy development, but we also see $1.4 billion for highway expansions,” said Mr. Hackney. “BC can’t pave its way to meeting its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.”

“This 1950s-style highway economics lacks imagination. Sixty years ago, it was progressive to build highways and stimulate car and truck traffic. Today, it drives us further down the dead-end street of dependence on fossil fuels and uncontrolled emissions.

” In spite of the hard economic times, two thirds of Canadians still rank the environment on a par with the economy, according to a Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey of July 2009. - 30 - For more information, contact:

Tom Hackney 250-381-4463 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              250-381-4463      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              250-381-4463      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Guy Dauncey 250-881-1304