What you can do about Duke Point

The most effective thing you and others can do now, from June 13 to July 31, 2005, is write or call to key decision-makers.

Encourage them to seize this window of opportunity to terminate the agreement with Duke Point Power Partnership, without penalty. (By agreement on March 3, BC Hydro now has this right.)

Point out that there are more appropriate, less expensive, more environmentally benign alternatives to what is really just a short term bridging issue between 2007-2008, than this 25 year deal for the most expensive power in North America - which will necessitate, all by itself, a two percent electricity rate increase in BC if it goes ahead.

Write to:

Premier Campbell at Legislative Buildings, Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy & Mines, also at Legislative Buildings, Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Your MLA - you can find her or his address and phone number here (though this information may be unreliable as new MLAs are updated in the system.)

Larry Bell, Chair, and the Directors of BC Hydro, at 333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5R3, or fax to Corporate Secretary's Office (604) 623-4467

Bob Elton, President and CEO, BC Hydro, also at 333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5R3, or fax to Corporate Secretary's Office (604) 623-4467

It's a little more work, but infinitely more effective, for you to write a letter. Email does not have the same impact.

Sample letter:

15 June 2005

The Chair and Board of the BC Hydro and Power Authority
Vancouver, BC
by fax: (604) 623-4467

Re: The Duke Point Power Electricity Purchase Agreement

Dear Mr. Bell and Board Members,

The GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition requests that BC Hydro cancel the electricity purchase agreement with Duke Point Power LP.

As you will be aware, the BC Court of Appeal has granted leave to the GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition and its allies and to the Joint Industry Electricity Steering Committee to appeal the Utilities Commission’s decision of 17 February. Now, under the terms of the electricity purchase agreement, BC Hydro has the right to terminate the agreement with no liability to Duke Point Power LP.

BC Hydro should exercise this option now. As you know, the opposition to the Duke Point Power proposal and other gas-fired generation projects on Vancouver Island has been widespread and protracted, and strongly supported with evidence. Not only have environmental groups and local Islanders opposed these projects – based largely on environmental considerations, including global climate change – but at the same time, on-Island industries are opposed, though they would supposedly be the main beneficiaries.

There are strong economic arguments against the Duke Point plant, including the price uncertainty of the gas commodity. As well, it is fundamentally wrong to build more fossil fuel-based generation in the context of global climate change. At the same time, the BC Transmission Corporation is confident of maintaining the Island’s electricity supply without the Duke Point plant.

The GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition has some forty individual members on Vancouver Island and ten members groups: Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter; the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC; the Georgia Strait Alliance; the Council of Canadians (Cowichan, Mid-Island and Victoria Chapters); the Nanaimo Citizens Organizing Committee; the Pender Island Conservancy Association; Shawnigan Lake Watershed Watch; and the Watershed Sentinel.

We urge you to cancel this project, so that BC Hydro can move toward an environmentally sustainable future, according to the commitments articulated by your president, Mr. Bob Elton.

Sincerely,

Thomas Hackney, President

GSXCCC funding appeal