Tue 29 Apr 2008
Sat 26 Apr 2008
Sat 26 Apr 2008
Sat 26 Apr 2008
Fri 18 Apr 2008
In recent weeks, the issue of energy privatization in British Columbia has garnered much attention in both local and provincial media. Most recently, the debate has raged over whether or not a controversial Independent Power Project (IPP) should be allowed to proceed on seven tributaries of the lower mainland’s Pitt River. Although this particular project has since been shelved due to environmental concerns, the broader issue of private hydro development on BC’s creeks and rivers, is poised to be a major political flash point. As both advocates and opponents of private power generation continue to square off, it is important that an accurate frame of reference is provided through which the public can view this complex issue.
Until now, much of the debate has been carried out under. A fundamental assumption that BC is in dire need of vast new energy sources. However, contrary to what the public has been led to believe, BC is NOT experiencing an energy crisis. In reality, BC citizens face a “manufactured energy crisis” and at a time when many alternatives to widespread development exist.
The current BC Energy Plan, released by the Liberal Government in February of 2007, is a response to what the government sees as a major threat to BC’s energy security – the fact that BC imports electricity. There is no doubt that since 2001 BC has been importing electricity, however, unlike the negative connotations the Government has attached to this situation, it has actually been more profitable for BC to do so. Importing electricity has simply been a very cost effective strategy. BC Hydro does not import power because it has no other domestic source through which it can acquire the energy, but rather it has strategically bought from the energy market when electricity is readily available and prices are relatively low.
By pursuing a strategy of “buy low, sell high”, BC Hydro has been able to allow domestic reservoir levels to rise. Through this process the utility is essentially ‘banking’ its own energy sources for a later date at which time market prices are higher and the sale of power more profitable. The BC Energy Plan ignores the economics of this traditionally very profitable process.
Furthermore, by using its reservoir capacity to contribute to an increase in American electricity generation on the Columbia River system downstream, BC is annually party to a large parcel of hydroelectric energy as per the Columbia River Treaty. This parcel amounts to 4500 GWh or approximately 10 % of BC’s yearly energy requirements. Although this energy could be used to supplement needs within the province, the Provincial Government has actually decided to sell this power on the American energy markets, and in doing so it is turning a very significant profit. Conveniently, profits from the sale of this energy go directly to the government’s general coffers. Rather than utilizing this existing energy source, the Campbell Government has chosen to reap the economic benefits, while simultaneously claiming that in order to meet BC’s domestic energy needs, a greater generating capacity must be developed.
By choosing to ignore the benefits of the Columbia River Treaty and the economics of ‘buying low and selling high,’ the Campbell Government has strategically led British Columbians to believe that our province faces a dire energy crisis.
Recognizing that the “energy crisis” has been manufactured, British Columbians will be able to understand how the notion of an impending crisis has been politicized. Essentially, “the crisis” has been used to justify the manic development of IPP’s on public lands throughout the province. Proponents of private power production within the province, spearheaded by the Provincial Government itself, have continually argued that IPP’s are integral to the provincial energy supply if it is to weather the impending energy crisis. The significance of this argument lies not in the potential importance of these projects to BC’s energy demands, but rather in the fact that the argument for their very existence is based on the false pretence of a manufactured energy crisis. By strategically premising all arguments on an assumed energy crisis, through the power of suggestion, proponents have convinced the public to accept that vast new sources of energy are a necessity. By leading the public to believe that it is facing a looming energy crisis, proponents have essentially made the rapid development of new energy sources in BC a very profitable fait accompli.
Unfortunately, the British Columbian public has accepted this assumption so widely, that the debate surrounding private power production no longer addresses the true guts of this issue. As it stands now, many environmental groups are forced to address the proliferation of IPP’s on a case-by-case basis, frantically fighting for the exclusion of a few key watersheds. Consciously or not, this has left scant resources to address the key issue of a falsified energy demand. Meanwhile the public appears to have been led down the garden path, almost entirely oblivious to the fact that it has been sold a very costly medicine to treat an ailment it simply does not appear to have. So from now on, as British Columbians debate the pros and cons of independent power projects, let us consider the fact that contrary to what the public has been led to believe, BC is not facing an impending energy crisis. Instead, the crisis we are fighting, is a crisis of rapid, unchecked development which threatens to permanently damage the ecological, cultural and social fabric of this wonderful province.
Conor MacKenzie
Coldstream, BC
Fri 11 Apr 2008
Thu 20 Mar 2008
Fri 1 Feb 2008
Wed 16 Jan 2008
Thursday, November 22, 2007
This resolution was passed at the British Columbia New Democratic Party Convention on Nov. 17: (more…)
Sat 3 Nov 2007
Tue 30 Oct 2007
Wed 17 Oct 2007
Wed 17 Oct 2007
Sat 29 Sep 2007
Tue 25 Sep 2007
Victoria BC Rivers Day hosted by BC Creek Protection Society
Join us to celebrate the 1st BC Rivers Day in Goldstream!
UPDATE - september 26
The event will take place rain or shine, there are large rain protected areas where we can still enjoy the day standing near a warm fire, sipping tea and listening to great music. Don’t forget to bring a mug.
Admission is free!
Please note: regular vehicle parking fees apply in the park, however, if you park by the highway there is no charge.
Where: Goldstream Provincial Park.
www.naturehouse.ca
When: Sunday, September 30, 11am-4pm
Directions: The park is located 16km northwest of Victoria on the Trans Canada Hwy #1
(more…)
Mon 17 Sep 2007
Mon 17 Sep 2007
Sun 16 Sep 2007
Thu 13 Sep 2007
Thu 13 Sep 2007
Sun 2 Sep 2007
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
CHIEFS COUNCIL
WESTBANK, B.C.
Resolution no. 2007-31
RE: Private Water Power Licenses
WHEREAS the UBCIC is a political organization for Indigenous peoples in British Columbia founded in 1969, dedicated to promoting and supporting the efforts of Indigenous people to affirm and defend Aboriginal Title and Rights; (more…)
Sun 2 Sep 2007
PRESS RELEASE
August 28, 2007
The proposed Glacier/Howser hydroelectric project in the West Kootenay region of BC continues to be quickly rammed through the environmental assessment review process. With only a 38 day public comment period in the peak of summer holiday season over 75 submissions have already been posted on the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) website. (more…)
Mon 13 Aug 2007
Full Press Release (PDF)
For Immediate Release: August 13, 2007
Two new reports help answer questions, raise others, on the sustainability of
run-of-river hydropower
Coquitlam, BC –Watershed Watch today released two reports that expose
weaknesses in how government and industry measure, monitor, and minimize the
impacts of “green” hydropower in British Columbia. (more…)
Wed 8 Aug 2007
Do you enjoy river activities such as swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, fishing, camping…? BC rivers are the heart of many BC communities, supporting year-round recreational and economic activities. But our rivers are at risk! Currently, the government is in the process of awarding water licenses to private companies for over 500 BC Rivers. This could mean the building of hundreds of new power plants in watersheds throughout the province, without an adequate review of the environmental or community impacts. It will result in incalculable damage to wild and scenic rivers – through road building, habitat destruction, water-diversion and new transmission lines. This is not micro-hydro development, it is a province-wide mega-project.
One of the proposed power projects is for 8 tributaries of the Upper Pitt River which is part of the provincial Pinecone-Burke Park. The BC Creek Protection Society encourages young people to enter a coloring contest which will also serve as a petition. The drawing shows what Pinecone Burke Park would look like if the power project was built. This coloring contest is open until August 20 for children of ages 4 to 12 - please write your name, address and age in the box. Color in the drawing provided and on the backside draw or paint a picture showing why we need to protect rivers in BC. Please mail the pictures to 4145 Borden Street, Victoria BC, V8X 2G6. The best pictures will be awarded prizes by BC Creek Protection Society from MEC and Ocean River Sports. The drawings will be then sent to the Western Canada Wilderness Committee who will forward them with comments about how we need to protect our rivers to BC Parks Minister Penner. Adults can access the following website for more information http://publicpowerbc.ca/rivers-for-generations/
Wed 27 Jun 2007
PROTECT OUR SACRED WATERS. July 5, 6:30 to 9:30 at SFU Harbor Centre, 515 Hastings St.
We will have representatives from Muslim, christian, Hindi, Sikh & Indigenous peoples giving the “spiritual”
significance of water, from their perspectives. And, we will then have a panel of information
sharing from experienced peoples who have been researching this phenomenon of private
power replacing the public utility in BC. Our July 5 free event will bring together peoples
from different faith groups and Native & non-Native peoples (including environmentalists)
who are concerned about the acceleration of the process of privatizing our whole province!
Tue 29 May 2007
Mark Angelo Presentation
Submitted by Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society
604-922-7828
hugheah@dowco.com
www.pskf.ca/angelo
West Vancouver Streamkeepers and North Shore Streamkeepers are hosting Mark Angelo, the well known conservationist, outdoor leader and writer who will give aphotographictrip titled Rivers of Home, a river tour of BC’s great rivers all the way down to Vancouver and the North Shore.
Please join us on Thursday May 31st. at St. Stephen’ s Anglican Church in West Vancouver. We have provided time for you to meet Mark Angelo in person, and enjoy light refreshments after the presentation.
The place and time are:
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 885 -22nd. Street, West Vancouver
Thursday May 31st., 7:30pm - 9:30pm
There is underground parking opposite the Church on Gordon Avenue, and off Marine Drive at the Aquatic Centre
Tue 29 May 2007
Globe and Mail article republished at workopolis.com:
Virtual view of power projects renders a jolting reality check
Wed 9 May 2007
The Hydro Map was updated. It now contains a complete list of hydro licenses in BC. However it is still work in progress and information about projects is not complete.
Mon 7 May 2007
Run-of-river hydroelectric projects and their construction have an enormous ecological footprint on some of our Province’s most environmentally sensitive areas, its free-flowing rivers and creeks. The BC CPS would like to ensure that British Columbia´s rivers and creeks are protected for generations to come.
Please consider signing our online petition that is hosted at an independent site (gopetition.com):
We also encourage you to sign the printed version (where available) as the printed version is legally binding.
Wed 25 Apr 2007
Documenting the First-Descent of Vancouver Islands Memekay River, The Last Drop documentary looks at the role kayaking plays in the conservation of BC rivers. Although the Kayakers in the film are met with a little “adverse” weather, they find the Memekay to be an untouched eco-system with massive old-growth trees and spectacular canyons and scenery.
Presented to raise awareness of Dam issues in British Columbia, the Last Drop looks at the current state of hydro in BC, and contrasts the role of the Provincial Government in the implementation of those hydro projects with the Kayakers and their thoughts on “stewardship of the rivers.” (more…)
Mon 5 Feb 2007
The memorial fund that was established by the request of Jeff Stang’s family grew to over $6,500 after the memorial service on February 3.
Thank you to everyone for your generous support. Specifically thank you to the Victoria Fire Department for their contribution of $2000.