Facts on Independent Power Production in British Columbia
Yesterday, the British Columbia Government, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, issued a press release entitled "Facts on Independent Power Production" (click to download a copy), to correct misleading claims about electricity generation in the Province. It's a must read for anyone who is interested in green energy in British Columbia.
The comprehensive press release deals with many of the falsehoods being spread by opponents to independent power producers and specifically addresses, with facts, the following topics:
- What it means to BC to be "electricity self-sufficient"
- BC Hydro's on-going role in the BC Energy Plan
- Costs to ratepayers for long-term IPP energy purchase contracts
- The non-privatization of BC Hydro
- Local input and environmental review of IPP projects
- BC rivers remaining in the public's control
- The possible future export of power by IPP's
- The export/import debate
- The number of current water power applications and what these mean
- The total number of IPP's operating in BC and the investment they have brought
- First Nations support of IPP projects
This release is very good timing given the current political climate and the unfourtunate, mostly politically motivated, backlash against the IPP industry. Hopefully, the facts will help educate the public about IPP's and we can then move to a proper dialogue on how we as a Province can use our incredible natural endowment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the damaging effects of climate change. To do anything short of that would be a disgrace.
