|
A quick assessment of the BC Government's energy policy, released November 25,
2002
The province's new energy policy is an invitation and encouragement to unrestrained exploration and exploitation of fossil fuels. Despite items in the package that talk about clean power targets, the real emphasis is on coal, coalbed methane and natural gas. It's fundamentally an old-fashioned resource extraction economic program and not a lot else.
For all the backgrounders, summaries, news releases and other links on the
Energy and Mines website, the real thing is contained within 26 "Policy
Actions". Some of the Policy Actions are business as usual, some
are inexplicable. Some are scary. The language is sometimes vague
and meaningless. It is rife with internal contradictions and worthless
"voluntary" environmental targets.
Note in particular Policy Action #18 in which the government is going to
interfere in land use planning, thereby ensuring that communities don't do
anything to screw up gas and coal exploration/exploitation. And Policy
Action #26 which will allow coal to compete with the other fossil fuels.
Policy Action #1 (new): A legislated heritage contract will preserve the
benefits of BC Hydro’s existing generation. - electricity rates will not
increase drastically
Policy Action #2 (ongoing): BC Hydro ratepayers will continue to benefit from
electricity trade. - Powerex will continue trading electricity
Policy Action #3 (ongoing): Public ownership of BC Hydro’s generation,
transmission and distribution assets will continue.
Policy Action #4 (new): BC Hydro will outsource the delivery of services where
costs can be reduced for electricity consumers while maintaining quality of
service. - Accenture's welcome mat
Policy Action #5 (new): The BC Utilities Commission will once again regulate
BC Hydro rates. - interfered with, of course by Policy Action #1
Policy Action #6 (new): The Vancouver Island Generation Project will be
reviewed by the BC Utilities Commission to determine if it is the most
cost-effective means to reliably meet Island power needs. - on the face of
it, a good thing, but there's some troubling language in the detail that
suggests a BCUC review may not happen, if it BC Hydro is not the proponent.
For more on VIGP and the energy policy, click here
Policy Action #7 (ongoing): High reliability and energy security will be
maintained through well-functioning natural gas markets and coordinated
electricity planning.
Policy Action #8 (new): BC Hydro distribution will operate as a separate line
of business from generation.
Policy Action #9 (new): Electricity distributors will acquire new supply on a
least-cost basis, with regulatory oversight by the BC Utilities Commission. -
least cost means other social and environmental objectives will be forgotten
in the dive for the bottom
Policy Action #10 (ongoing): Development of coalbed methane and other
unconventional resources will be encouraged to provide a new source of energy
supply and opportunities for regional economic growth.
Policy Action #11 (new): The Ministry of Energy and Mines will establish a
dedicated provincial offshore oil and gas team to a develop a provincial
position, work with the federal government and move effectively toward
development of offshore resources.
Policy Action #12 (new): The structure of the BC Utilities Commission, and its
mandate in regulating BC Hydro and other distributors, will be strengthened. -
BCUC is to become performance-based and results-based; it risks losing
whatever independence it once had
Policy Action #13 (new): The private sector will develop new electricity
generation, with BC Hydro restricted to improvements at existing plants. -
but they haven't said that the private sector is to take over VIGP and/or GSX
Policy Action #14 (new): Under new rate structures, large electricity
consumers will be able to choose a supplier other than the local distributor.
Policy Action #15 (new): The BC Hydro Transmission Corporation will improve
access to the transmission system and enable IPP participation in US wholesale
markets.
Policy Action #16 (new): The BC Utilities Commission will determine the terms
and rates for this new transmission entity.
Policy Action #17 (ongoing): The Ministry of Energy and Mines will provide
support for continued industry investment in natural gas production over the
next 10 years.
Policy Action #18 (ongoing): Pre-tenure and land use planning, as well as
northern road improvements, are improving access to oil and gas resources. -
look for the heavy hand of the government in land use planning activities
Policy Action #19 (new): Natural gas marketers will be allowed to sell
directly to small volume customers, and will be licensed to provide consumer
protection.
Policy Action #20 (new): Electricity distributors will pursue a voluntary goal
to acquire 50 percent of new supply from BC Clean Electricity over the next 10
years. - gutless and meaningless
Policy Action #21 (new): New rate structures will provide better price signals
to large electricity consumers for conservation and energy efficiency. -
this is good
Policy Action #22 (new): The Province will update and expand its Energy
Efficiency Act, and will work with the building industry, governments and
others to improve energy efficiency in new and existing buildings.
Policy Action #23 (new): The Utilities Commission Act will be amended to
remove a disincentive for energy distributors to invest in conservation and
energy efficiency.
Policy Action #24 (new/ongoing): The government is developing strategies to
manage B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions and air quality in threatened
airsheds. - they couldn't have an energy policy that didn't have the words
"greenhouse gas" in it, so here they are
Policy Action #25 (new/ongoing): Provincial processes for environmental
assessment, water licensing and waste permitting are being streamlined. -
streamlined is a euphemism for gutted
Policy Action #26 (new): To allow for a fair evaluation of coal-fired
electricity projects, final emission standards will be adopted for coal-fired
power plants. - fudging the rules so coal can compete with fossil fuels
that aren't as dirty. This may be the worst item of the 26.
Cynics: fill your boots Arthur Caldicott The 26 policy actions are at: The government's information on the policy begins at: GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition Quick Take on the policy: GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition on VIGP and the energy policy: |