Media Release
For Immediate Release April 27, 2005
( PDF,
496kb)
BC Hydro Missing The Point On Sustainable Energy
Better than gas-guzzling global warmers for keeping the
lights on in BC
VICTORIA — The BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA)
believes that BC Hydro is missing the point in pushing natural
gas-fired electricity generation on Vancouver Island.
“Sustainable energy technologies offer much better
ways of generating electricity than burning natural gas,” said
BCSEA spokesperson Tom Hackney in Victoria today, in advance
of a speech by BC Hydro president Bob Elton to the Victoria
Chamber of Commerce.
“The Duke Point power plant proposed for Vancouver
Island will double BC Hydro’s annual greenhouse gas
emissions even if Burrard use is reduced,” Hackney
pointed out. “As well, this ill-advised project will
cost almost $2 billion over its lifetime and drive up electricity
rates for all BC ratepayers. It’s the direct equivalent
of another fast-ferries project for BC.”
Late last week BCSEA published a report containing 28 energy
policy recommendations that would encourage the development
of a truly sustainable, non-polluting energy supply for BC.
The recommendations are detailed in a policy paper authored
jointly by Hackney and noted BC environmental writer Guy
Dauncey. Sustainable Energy Policies For British Columbia
contains 28 energy policies for the next BC government to
adopt. These cover nine major issue areas, ranging from greenhouse
gas reduction to jobs and training, and including transportation,
electricity generation, ‘green’ hydrogen, appliance
and building design, and urban planning.
“We must move away from subsidising fossil fuels towards
encouraging non-polluting, sustainable energy,” Hackney
continued. “instead of building the Duke Point power
plant, the next provincial government should direct BC Hydro
to support Canada’s Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.”
BCSEA yesterday announced that it was joining with the GSX
Concerned Citizens Coalition (GSXCCC), and the Society Promoting
Environmental Conservation (SPEC) to continue their BC Court
of Appeal challenge to the BC Utilities Commission decision
that approved BC Hydro’s plan to buy power from the
Duke Point gas-fired generation plant.
Because of the urgency of BC’s future energy supply
situation, BCSEA has declared the coming period the Decade
of Transition to Sustainable Energy. With over 435 members
and seven growing chapters in Kamloops, Kelowna, the central
Interior, Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo and Port Alberni,
BCSEA is quickly becoming a strong, well-informed voice on
the need for and advantages of sustainable energy.
The full policy paper can be downloaded from the BCSEA web
site at www.bcsea.org/policy
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For more information please contact:
Tom Hackney, lead author (250) 381-4463 thackney@island.net
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