Critics urge Hydro to rethink plan

The plan, which detailed the province's growing dependence on importing power and the three-pronged attack Hydro proposes to fill the emerging energy gap, was lauded for its emphasis on conservation but slammed for the suggestion coal and natural gas could fire future generation projects.

"The Sustainable Energy Association is not supportive of coal-fired electricity nor of natural gas-fired electricity for the simple reason that the cost of natural gas continues to climb, making it uneconomic and 'clean coal' is really just an advertising slogan not a proven technology at this point," said Peter Ronald, co-ordinator for B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, who said there's no reason for B.C. to bother with either fossil-fuel.

"B.C. is blessed with huge, clean energy resources," he said. "We've conducted a study which indicates we can produce more than our total energy demand from renewable sources over 30 years if we equip ourselves for the challenge."

In the plan, Hydro points out the province has been a net importer of energy for the last five years and projects that in 20 years, as demand grows, the province will need to import between 25-45 per cent of its power. That's enough to power between 1.4-2.5 million new homes.

To bridge that power gap, Hydro has tabled a three-level plan which would emphasize conserving power, buying more from independent power producers and investing in heritage assets as well as building new generation.

"I'm pleased to see there is honest realism going on at Hydro, a recognition that B.C. does have a deficit of electricity," said Paul Manson, president of Sea Breeze Power Corp. which has proposed two submarine cable routes to bring electricity to Vancouver Island and has a permit to build wind generation in the North Island region.

"Where I would perhaps digress from the concerns expressed that the electricity deficit could grow by up to 45 per cent over 20 years is that B.C. is truly a bread basket of renewable energy potential," he said. "All it takes to harness that is to marry wind energy with the storage capabilities of B.C.'s vast reservoir system."

Manson admits Sea Breeze's wind energy project has "gone sideways" in the last year and a half, essentially because Sea Breeze felt Hydro didn't have a sincere appetite for renewable energy production. He hopes that will change.

"I see this as an opportunity for B.C. and I'm glad to see they recognize solutions have to be found," he said, with a nod to Hydro's plan to purchase more power from independent power producers.

Ronald said his group was pleased to see conservation at the top of Hydro's list.

"In the short-term conservation is by far the cheapest way to make our energy go further, it's absolutely essential," he said.

"Energy conservation is the cheapest way to meet most of our new demand. For the rest, government should follow Ontario's recent example and implement a Standard Offer Contract to kick-start a renewable energy industry in B.C.," added Guy Dauncey, BCSEA president.

- Andrew A. Duffy, Times Colonist

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006