News
Aug 26, 2009CanGEA Welcomes B.C. Government Commitment to Green Energy
For Immediate Release:
CanGEA WELCOMES BC GOVERNMENT Commitment TO GREEN ENERGY
VANCOUVER, BC August 26, 2009 – The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) today welcomed the British Columbia government’s announced intention to appoint a Green Energy Advisory Task Force to recommend a blueprint for maximizing B.C.’s clean power potential – including its geothermal potential - in keeping with the government’s BC Energy Plan.
Tuesday’s Throne Speech from the BC Liberal government also called for “prescribed” clean power calls which will provide planning certainty to power developers. And the government promised new investments in transmission and new approaches to taxation policies affecting the industry.
“We also welcome the government’s decision to give specific direction to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) with respect to the phasing out of BC Hydro’s gas-fired Burrard Thermal Plant as a critical part of the province’s greenhouse gas reduction strategy,” said Alison Thompson, CanGEA Chair and Executive Director.
A recent BCUC suggestion that the production capacity of Burrard Thermal should be increased - rather than meeting BC’s energy needs with clean, renewable power from private producers - had been criticized by both power producers and leading environmentalists.
“The Throne Speech made it plain that British Columbia intends to, and I quote, ‘take every step necessary to become a clean energy powerhouse, as indicated in the BC Energy Plan,’” Thompson said. She noted that the BC Energy Plan requires that almost all new electrical generation in BC come from private producers and that 90% of that power be from clean energy sources such as geothermal, wind, solar and small hydro.
Contact:
Alison Thompson
Chair & Executive Director
Canadian Geothermal Energy Association
