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

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Politicians join forces to tackle climate change in an effort to stimulate economic growth

The governments of B.C., Washington, Oregon and California, vowed Friday to cooperate on a host of initiatives from promoting high-speed rail to developing renewable energy projects to tackle climate change in a way that will also boost the economy.

Noting that the climate isn’t contained by borders, and claiming so far it is states and provinces and not national governments that have taken concrete action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the state and provincial leaders said they plan to work together in what they have dubbed the Pacific Coast Collaborative.

“The main agenda here is not only to build our states and this whole [Pacific] rim, but also to inspire our federal governments to go in the same direction,” California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said before signing the two memorandums that representatives signed that promised cooperation.

Schwarzenegger, who will chair the group, said the state and provincial governments will need to work with their federal counterparts to bring about change on items such as cleaner fuel standards and developing renewable energy.

By Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun

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Government hopes to make B.C. a hub for business and investment in this expanding sector

The provincial government opened a bundle of clean energy announcements on Monday in a bid to brand British Columbia as a global hub for green business investment and research.

Premier Gordon Campbell and Energy Minister Blair Lekstrom introduced three deals, all involving British Columbia companies and international partners, and gave their strongest indication yet that the Clean Energy Act announced in last week’s throne speech will fundamentally change the energy development landscape.

“B.C. is home to 1,000 clean-tech and environmental companies. This is the third-largest clean energy and research-development hub in the world,” Campbell said during a 90-minute “Clean Energy Day” kickoff at the B.C. media centre on Robson Street downtown.

Campbell said the Clean Energy Act, which will be introduced in the current sitting of the legislature, will “minimize risk” for companies seeking to develop new sources of electricity and “simplify procurement protocols and new measures to encourage investment.”

By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun

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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