Confronting coal-fired generation in Princeton
Compliance Energy is proposing a 56 MW coal-fired generation project in Princeton. It has an Electricity Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro, and is in the process of submitting an application for review to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
Concern about the Princeton project is building locally.
Karen Campbell and Matt Horne of Pembina Institute, and Casey Brennan of Wildsight, spoke at a community workshop in Princeton on November 1. There were over 170 people there, including the Princeton Mayor, Council members, the MLA (NDP, Harry Lalli) and many many concerned citizens. Media present included CBC-TV, CHBC (the local Global station).
One of the folks who got up to speak was a former employee at the Compliance Mine, her comments were perfect. Her assessment? Compliance has discovered a lucrative scheme to dispose of waste coal, stuff so cruddy it's unmarketable:
Another speaker was Chief Joseph Dennis of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, solidly opposed to the project. (The Upper Similkameen Indian Band, most disappointingly, is a partner with Compliance in the power project.)
Friends of the Similkameen, Save Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) and COALSTINKS protested at the BC Liberal Convention.
Pembina has also now put out a coal fact sheet on its website - here's the link:
http://www.pembina.org/energy-watch/doc.php?id=1327
CHBC News - video coverage
http://www.chbc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13435
The EAO process for the Compliance Energy Princeton project has drawn very little public interest so far. The 184 MW AES Wapiti coal-fired generation project in Tumbler Ridge is in a similar situation. There is no opening at present in either project for public submissions, there will be down the road. We will let you know when those windows open, so you can share your opinions with the EAO (and of course cc the thing to MLAs, Ministers, Premiers ...)
http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/html/deploy/epic_project_home_276.html
http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/html/deploy/epic_project_home_279.html