WHEREAS the BC Energy Plan limits the mandate for BC Hydro to grow public green power assets and BC Hydro is instead directed to buy power from private power utilities; AND WHEREAS there has not been a meaningful public debate on the Energy Plan or on the environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of different green power sources such as run of river: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Hydro have its mandate restored to look for opportunities to develop sustainable alternative energy sources.
MINISTRY OF ENERGY, MINES PETROLEUM RESOURCES The BC Energy Plan clearly states governments commitment to public ownership of BC Hydro and its assets, while broadening the supply of available energy. BC Hydro is investing more than 3.6 billion over the next two years to upgrade its dams and other public power infrastructure. The BC Energy Plan focuses on innovative, sustainable energy solutions for British Columbia. Clean, renewable electricity accounts for over 90 per cent of total generation, and combined with aggressive conservation targets, places our province among the top jurisdictions in the world. A typical clean, renewable power project will require more than 50 permits, licences, approvals and reviews from 14 regulatory bodies, including federal and provincial agencies, local governments and First Nations. Clean, renewable power projects are just one part of B.C.s energy mix. The long-term transmission inquiry being conducted by the BC Utilities Commission is a public process and will identify areas in the province with high levels of clean and renewable generation potential, taking into account areas that may be inappropriate for development, and the most efficient transmission infrastructure to deliver that electricity to customers. The recent decision by BCUC does not shut the door on clean and renewable power projects. In fact, just a few weeks ago BCUC accepted electricity purchase agreements with four biomass projects.
BC Hydro BC Hydro is the largest utility in British Columbia, operating 31 hydroelectric facilities and three thermal generating plants across the province. As a provincial Crown corporation, we receive guidance from the Province, our Shareholder, through several policy instruments, including a Shareholders Letter of Expectation and The BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership. The BC Energy Plan directs BC Hydro to look to all forms of clean and renewable energy options as well as demand side management measures to meet the future energy needs of British Columbians. Included among these initiatives is a goal for BC Hydro to acquire 50 per cent of incremental resource needs through energy conservation and efficiency by 2020, while at the same time requiring that: - All new electricity projects developed in BC will have zero net greenhouse gas emissions. - Existing thermal generation power plants will reach zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2016. - Clean or renewable electricity generation will continue to account for at least 90 per cent of total generation, placing the provinces standard among the top jurisdictions in the world. The Energy Plan also commits that British Columbia will be electricity self-sufficient by 2016. To achieve this goal, BC Hydro has commenced a multi-billion dollar capital investment program to upgrade our heritage assets, launched a world leading demand side management program, acquired additional clean and renewable power from Independent Power Producers and is investigating a potential new generation site Site C on the Peace River. All of the initiatives mentioned previously are being undertaken with an underlying goal of providing British Columbians with the benefits of clean, low-cost, reliable power for generations to come.