From: "Tom Hackney" Subject: GSX hearings concluded Date: March 20, 2003 Yesterday, the hearings on the GSX pipeline proposal concluded with final arguments by lawyers representing the Provinces of Alberta and BC and final words by Don Davies, counsel for GSX PL Ltd (i.e. BC Hydro's shell company). Not surprisingly, they all agreed to oppose the idea put forward by GSXCCC and others that the Panel should consider the sub-sea cables as being alternatives to the pipeline. The Panel, according to GSX-PL and the provinces, should only consider other pipeline routes or other ways of moving natural gas to the Island. The provinces are, of course, protecting their own turf here, in particular they are trying to protect their fossil fuel industries from getting any serious responsibility for environmental consequences attached to them. If the sub-sea cables alternative is allowed to be seen as an alternative to the pipeline (and this, in my opinion, was clearly intended in the Terms of Reference for the review set by the federal Environment Minister in consultation with the NEB) that would open the door to a comparison of their environmental impacts and a comparison of the emissions from more fossil fuel use versus other energy alternatives. Scary stuff for Alberta and BC, both of which intend to get a lot of their future revenues from fossil fuel production, both of which continue to pretend, at a policy level (though not so much in their p.r.), that greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and climate change are non issues. Similarly, BC and Alberta joined GSX PL Ltd in opposing the idea put forward by DSF/SPEC that greenhouse gas offset purchases should be made a mandatory condition of approval of GSX. Davies of GSX PL went out of his way to insult Tim Howard of SLDF, counsel for DSF/SPEC, possibly an indication that he is afraid such a condition might be attached. Davies also painted a picture of the Canadian fossil fuel industry being seriously put out by a precedent of GHG offset conditions being attached on a pipeline. We now await the Panel's decision, which could take months. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have supported our campain in many ways. GSXCCC has constantly felt the benefit of widespread public support, giving us confidence that we are not alone in thinking this is a bad idea, and we have benefitted greatly from the extensive in put and interest shown in the discussions on the gsx listserv. Now attention must turn to the BC Utilities Commission review of the Vancouver Island Generation Project. This is the appropriate forum for a clear comparicon between gas generation and other options. In the GSX hearing it was stated more than once by GSX-PL's witnesses: if VIGP does not proceed, GSX will not be built. Tom Hackney BC Chapter - Sierra Club of Canada and GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition (250) 381-4463; fax (250) 381-4407 thackney@island.net