Province Advances Commitment To Clean, Renewable, Energy
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 and is filed under BC Hydro, Industry News, News Releases.
News Release
For Immediate Release
October 28, 2009
VICTORIA – As part of its commitment to reduce greenhouse gases and become a clean energy powerhouse, the Province has clarified its intention to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to end BC Hydro’s reliance on the Burrard Thermal Generating Facility for energy needs. The decision was announced today by Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
“We’ve been committed since 2001 to ending BC Hydro’s reliance on Burrard and to only using it for emergency back-up capacity,” said Lekstrom. “In B.C, we have the opportunity to develop clean, renewable, cost-effective electricity with virtually no greenhouse gas emissions. That will also improve air quality in the Lower Mainland.”
BC Hydro has been planning to reduce its reliance on Burrard, as proposed in its recent Long Term Acquisition Plan, to help meet the legislative target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent by 2012, 18 per cent by 2016, and 33 per cent by 2020. Today’s direction is consistent with the government’s Climate Action Plan, BC Energy Plan, and the Utilities Commission Act.
Effective immediately Burrard will no longer be used for planning purposes for firm energy. It will only be used for up to 900 megawatts of emergency capacity.
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