Syntaris Power

New legislation will make B.C. electricity self-sufficient, create jobs and help support health care and education

By Bill Bennett, Special to the Sun

Our new Clean Energy Act will help ensure that British Columbians continue to enjoy the benefits of our clean, reliable and cost-effective power for many years to come.

Experts have told us that, over the next 20 years, as our population increases by more than one million residents, we can expect the demand for electricity to grow by as much as 40 per cent. In order to meet this growing demand, all of us must make every effort to conserve electricity and be more efficient in our power use. Recognizing this need, we have increased BC Hydro’s conservation target to 66 per cent, from 50 per cent. However, conservation alone will not be enough.

We need to ensure that we have secure, clean sources of power to meet this growing demand. There is no better place to get clean energy than right here in British Columbia. We have abundant water, wind and biomass, and a proven, track record in delivering sustainable projects such as the W.A.C. Bennett Dam in the Peace Canyon region.

…There are critics who say that we should continue to rely on electricity generated in the United States, even if it’s not generated from clean or renewable resources.

We simply do not agree with this approach. The Clean Energy Act puts in legislation that BC Hydro will be electricity self-sufficient, which includes 3,000 gigawatt hours of “insurance” electricity by 2020 and at least 93 per cent of our electricity will be generated from clean and renewable sources.

…The new Clean Energy Act sets the foundation for a future of electricity self-sufficiency and job creation, powered by unprecedented investments in clean, renewable energy across the province.

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TORONTO — Between the wind power, electric buses and diverted waste Ottawa hopes the legacy the G8 and G20 summits leave is a green one.

The government unveiled its plan Friday for the upcoming summits to have a minimal environmental impact.

Peter Kent, minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas), announced the six components of the plan at a sparsely attended news conference in a park across from the G20 media centre.

“In the case of the G8 the entire grid will run on wind and hydroelectricity,” Kent said.

“Here in Toronto the (Metro Toronto) Convention Centre, the Direct Energy Centre (the media centre), the delegate hotels…will be powered only by renewable sources.”

Both summits will be “zero waste events,” meaning waste generated at the main summit venues will be recycled, reduced or reused, he said.

…Thousands of newly planted trees and a “living wall” of plants that will produce high-quality air inside the Direct Energy Centre are being called the summits’ “environmental legacy projects.”

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Ambitious Liberal plan expected this week

The B.C. Liberal government today has introduced a new Clean Energy Act that increases the province’s focus on clean energy develop and conservation.

The government says in a news release the act includes 16 specific objectives aimed at “expediting clean energy investments, protecting B.C. [electricity] ratepayers, ensuring competitive rates, encouraging conservation, strengthening environmental protection and aggressively promoting regional job creation and first nations’ involvement in clean electricity development opportunities.”

The act puts unprecedented emphasis on conservation, requiring Hydro to meet 66 per cent of new electricity demand through energy efficiency measures, and calls for introduction of a $1-billion “smart meter” program that sees interactive electricity meters installed in households with a promise that Hydro customers will save from $145 to $450 a year.

The act allows Hydro and independent power producers to pursue opportunities to cultivate export electricity markets — but it says that “ratepayers will not be subsidizing export power sales.”

By Scott Simpson

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For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. – British Columbia’s new Clean Energy Act sets the foundation for a new future of electricity self-sufficiency, job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, powered by unprecedented investments in clean, renewable energy across the province. Bill 17 builds upon British Columbia’s unique heritage advantages and wealth of clean, renewable energy resources.

The act advances 16 specific energy objectives by expediting clean energy investments, protecting B.C. ratepayers, ensuring competitive rates, encouraging conservation, strengthening environmental protection and aggressively promoting regional job creation and First Nations’ involvement in clean electricity development opportunities.

“The new Clean Energy Act opens the way to an exciting new age of economic growth and job creation by unleashing British Columbia’s full potential in clean energy, power smart technologies, environmental stewardship and climate action,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “It will maximize the value of our public heritage assets for the benefit of British Columbians by forever securing competitive rates and generating new streams of revenue for crucial public services.

Link to full News Release