Syntaris Power

Get in early before these holdings begin to rally, experts suggest

…One of the biggest long-term areas of growth for investors could well be companies developing environmental technology. Since U.S. President Barack Obama’s economic recovery and re-investment plan includes a strong emphasis on developing green technology, it could be one shining light on an otherwise gloomy investment horizon.

…There is also a tax incentive plan to stimulate the installation of renewable energy products and systems across America, so it could be time for smart investors to get in early on the next resource and energy cycle before green solutions begin to rally.

Matthew Patsky, manager of the Massachusetts-based $400-million Jov Winslow Global Green Growth Fund, is at the fore of this trend and strongly believes green investing is the place to be.

“There’s been tremendous growth over the last couple of years in North America particularly, but also over the past 10 years in Europe,” says Patsky. “Three years ago, we still had people telling us we should change the name because nobody knew what ‘green’ was. Now it’s become so accepted.”

“The near-term numbers are certainly not (attractive),” admits Patsky. “What makes (green investing) attractive is the long-term trends.”

Any company that develops viable products and services to address the green shift will be well-positioned for future growth and more investors are shifting resources to this rapidly emerging area.

By Derek Sankey, For Canwest News Service

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IPPBC has released a video on green energy in British Columbia discussing run-of-river hydro, wind power, biomass, geothermal, and energy recovery-generation projects around BC. Included in the video are comments from; workers on IPP job sites, mayors, First Nations project participants, Dr. Jaccard and IPPBC Directors.

Link to video

Blanket objections to hydro projects make no sense

I remember covering the Clayoquot Sound logging blockades back in the 1990s and encountering a young, tough-as-nails environmental activist named Tzeporah Berman.

My impression at the time was that she was too tough for her own good — so headstrong that she was unwilling even to consider opposing points of view when it came to managing B.C.’s natural resources.

That’s why I’m pleasantly surprised to see her emerge as a reasonable voice in the current high-volume battle over hydroelectric developments on B.C. rivers.

The fight over so-called run-of-the-river and micro-hydro projects is sure to be an issue in the looming provincial election. (The private hydro projects are backed enthusiastically by the Gordon Campbell government, while the NDP, which calls them a “capitalist ripoff” and damaging to the environment, wants them effectively banned.)

Well-financed environmental groups are fighting the hydro developments tooth-and-nail in an alliance with the union representing B.C. Hydro workers. (Something tells me that, if Hydro was building the projects with union labour, the union wouldn’t be so concerned about their environmental impact.)

I personally think these projects should be carefully studied before they’re approved because not every river is suitable for a hydro development. That’s why I was against the proposed Pitt River hydro project, which was rejected by the government last year after a huge protest campaign.

But here’s where common sense and rational thinking have to enter the picture: In an era of climate change, B.C. must develop clean, zero-emission energy sources.

Even if you’re a climate-change skeptic, the fact is the world is moving to low-emission power. Just this week, U.S. President Barack Obama called for a “global coalition” to fight climate change and vowed the United States will lead the effort.

In other words, the train is leaving the station whether we like it or not. B.C. can’t afford to be left behind.

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Hydro says demand for electricity is falling as forestry and mining slow

Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, January 7, 2009

A slowing provincial economy is getting the blame for BC Hydro’s decision to slash by 40 per cent the amount of power it sought in its recent call for green energy.

Tumbling demand for electricity in the forestry sector, an expected decline in sales of consumer goods, and a presumed drop in housing starts over the next two years are all cited by Hydro in a recent filing to the British Columbia Utilities Commission.

Hydro forecasts that those factors, and others including a mining industry slowdown, will dampen overall growth in demand for electricity in B.C. — reflecting a global economic downturn over the next two years.

As a result, it’s cutting the amount of power it proposes to buy from independent power producers in the Clean Call for electricity, which closed Nov. 25, 2008, from 5,000 gigawatt hours per year to 3,000 gigawatt hours per year.

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