Syntaris Power

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

Dave Cobb, one of the key executives during the Vancouver Olympics, is expected to be named the CEO of BC Hydro.

The appointment, which has yet to be announced, would make him the second executive from the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee to take a major role in the public utility. Dan Doyle, who oversaw the building of Olympic venues, was appointed Hydro’s chairman in July, before the Games.

Cobb is a chartered accountant by training. But he was best known as the chief operating officer of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team and Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment. One of his major files during the Olympics was creating a ticketing system to ensure as many seats were filled as possible.

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THE LONG-AWAITED start of the environmental review of the Northwest Transmission Line is good news, says the executive director of the Terrace Economic Development Authority.
Speaking April 15, the day the planned 335km, $404 million line that will provide power up Hwy37 North officially entered the 180-day review period, Sam Harling said the line will have other benefits as well.

“I know this is big for miners who have properties up there, but there are now bio-energy companies interested and perhaps there’s potential for users we haven’t even thought of yet,” said Harling.

“This line isn’t just about mines anymore. There’s lots of positives in this.”

Harling’s referring to a number of potential run of river and other independent power producing potential projects which need the Northwest Transmission Line to move any power they would generate onto the provincial grid.

The province expects to recoup its investment from mining companies tapping into the line and from independent power producers who will feed into the line.

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