Syntaris Power

Business being developed in the province based on clean generation

…The most optimistic forecasts see independent power producers adding $9 billion to the economy and 9,100 full time jobs over the next decade. Direct payments to government are expected to reach about $530 million annually.

While it may not have the heft of oil and gas, clean energy still holds great potential to deliver significant economic benefits to the province. It already has. Capital spending by IPPs so far amounts to $2.8 billion, and study by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, commissioned by the Independent Power Producers Association, sees that figure rising to $29 billion by 2020. IPPs employ 1,175 British Columbians today, with another 7,930 jobs expected to be created by 2020.

Construction of IPP projects has put $235 million into government coffers and potential tax revenue over the next decade is seen at $1.6 billion.

It goes without saying that most of these projects are in remote areas and will bring benefits to resource-dependent communities and first nations bands.

By Harvey Enchin, Vancouver Sun

Link to full article

The latest throne speech is online with some Clean Energy highlights in the “A Future Powered by Clean Energy” section. See below for the highlights:

-A new Clean Energy Act will encourage new investments in independent power production while also strengthening BC Hydro.

-New transmission investments will open up the Highway 37 corridor to new mines and clean power.

-New transmission infrastructure will link Northeastern B.C. to our integrated grid, provide clean power to the energy industry and open up new capacity for clean power exports to Alberta, Saskatchewan and south of the border.

-We will seek major transmission upgrades with utilities in California and elsewhere.

-Maximize our potential as a clean energy powerhouse and a global leader in climate action;

-The government will work with other provinces and the federal government to establish one process for one project. There is no time to waste and Canadian taxpayers cannot afford the extra costs, the uncertainties and the lost jobs that are the products of the current system.

-The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act must be amended to create a unified federal-provincial review process that does away with redundancy and unnecessary costs.

-The government will fully respect and adhere to First Nations’ rights to consultation and accommodation. That essential ingredient will be complemented with a new unified process for environmental assessment and permitting in British Columbia.

Link to the full Throne Speech

Independent power producers on Tuesday cautiously praised a throne speech promise to dramatically reshape British Columbia’s energy sector.

The provincial government is promising to improve both the economy and the environment with the introduction of a Clean Energy Act intended to streamline development of new green electricity initiatives.

…“I’d have to give the government kudos,” said Paul Kariya, Independent Power Producers association of B.C. executive director.

“I think there is encouragement there on improving the whole framework of procurement and how energy is brought to the market,” Kariya said. “It reinforces that the clean energy sector is a star on B.C.’s economic horizon.”

By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun

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Independent power producers seek parity with other Hydro customers, but critics argue move would negatively impact ratepayers

Independent power producers seek economic opportunities and benefits from government similar to those available for British Columbia industries such as forestry and mining, according to a document obtained by The Vancouver Sun.

Independents argue in a submission to the B.C. government’s Green Energy Task Force that the industry could quadruple in size by 2020, generating $29 billion in capital investment and creating up to 8,000 full-time permanent jobs.

That includes development of new power supplies for both domestic use and a hungry export market in the United States, according to the submission from the Independent Power Producers Association of B.C.

“IPPs are poised to become another piston in the B.C. resource industry export engine along with mining, forestry and oil and gas — with the ensuing benefits to the provincial treasury,” the submission states.

The independent power association argues that energy planning must move beyond the traditional objective of providing BC Hydro customers with the lowest possible electricity rates, and incorporate climate change actions, renewable power development and some social policies into the price of power.

Link to full article