B.C. Liberals selling out our energy future

Ralph Keller, Arthur Caldicott and Jim Abram
Times Colonist
January 28, 2009

Climate and terrain could make us the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy

There is an energy "gold rush" happening in British Columbia. With our mountainous terrain and wet-coast climate, we are poised to become the world's Saudi Arabia of sustainable energy from a variety of sources including run of river, wind and tidal power.

If fully exploited, these resources could create four times more power than B.C. Hydro currently produces, and give us billions of dollars for provincial coffers. But only if the resource remains a public asset, managed for public benefits.

British Columbians have been blessed with renewable, reliable and inexpensive electricity ever since W.A.C. Bennett had the foresight to develop publicly owned hydroelectric power almost 50 years ago. It might have been renewable, but it was not especially green -- ask anyone living in the Peace River country back then.

In 2002, the provincial government prohibited B.C. Hydro from developing new power projects, throwing British Columbia's renewable energy potential to the private energy sector.

Since then, more than a thousand applications have been made for renewable energy projects; 650 "run of river" applications now cover almost every viable river and stream. More than 400 applications are under review for wind, tide and wave permits.

The government has made it easy and inexpensive for private developers to access our water and wind resources. Over the life of the 30- to 40-year Independent Power Producer energy contracts being negotiated, the people of B.C. receive less than four per cent of gross revenues in return for the long-term-use of public resources and guaranteed purchase contracts.

Compared to the 15 to 25 per cent royalties and tax paid by oil and gas companies, our renewable energy resources are a giveaway.

The IPPs claim to be developing zero-emission "Green Power" which is climate friendly. To an extent, this is true. Some projects are about as "green" as energy production gets, and if approved by local communities, they should go ahead.

But many projects come with unacceptably high environmental price tags. Surprisingly, the Environmental Assessment Office has never yet turned down a proposal, but consider the overall impacts of this new gold rush: Roads and transmission lines that will criss-cross B.C.'s wilderness landscapes; thousands of hectares that will be clearcut; river diversion, tunnels and pipelines; massive drilling and blasting operations, with acid rock drainage and soil erosion.

Could these permanent disturbances to almost every coastal watershed really mean no damage to fish and wildlife?

Most disturbing is how the government has disempowered affected communities. Citizens have no meaningful way to engage with power-project applications since provincial legislation has removed local government jurisdiction.

Even if the vast majority of citizens oppose a particular project, the provincial government can (and does) overturn regional and community bylaws. It has ensured the people are voiceless and corporations get the last word.

In the past, B.C. citizens endured the negative social and environmental consequences of hydroelectric developments in the Peace and in the Kootenays.

In exchange, these projects did guarantee British Columbians a legacy of inexpensive and reliable energy, and B.C. Hydro's substantial profits have continued to offset costs of health care, education and other social programs.

Now British Columbia's vast renewable energy resources could lead Canada into a low carbon future and create wealth for its citizens. However, the present gold rush mentality and helter-skelter development is about to leave British Columbians with a new dark legacy of disturbed rivers, degraded landscapes, a tangle of high-voltage transmission lines in every direction -- and no continuing economic benefit.

The B.C. government could set into motion a plan to earn billions of dollars in green energy profits making us the wealthiest province in Canada. It could work with communities to develop energy.

Instead, the government is bent on privatizing our natural heritage and converting our common wealth into shareholder profits. For those corporations, it's green energy in more ways than one.

Ralph Keller is with Coast Mountain Expeditions, Ltd., Arthur Caldicott is a B.C. energy analyst and Jim Abram is a former president of the Union of BC. Municipalities and a director of the Strathcona Regional District.