A BC Chamber of Commerce poll of B.C.’s business community showed solid support for the infrastructure needed to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in the province for domestic and export markets.
The BC Chamber Energy Survey was released last night at the opening of the two-day BC Chamber Energy Summit in Vancouver.
Of those surveyed 78% said they were aware that B.C.’s huge gas resource could power domestic and export markets for the foreseeable future.
Sixty-one per cent of those contacted agreed that B.C. should develop oil and gas infrastructure that will diversify its exports to include Asian markets in addition to U.S. destinations.
John Winter, president of the BC Chamber, said, “The landscape is rapidly changing here in B.C., and clearly there is confusion amongst the business community with respect to how best develop our resource base.”
“Therefore, we must quickly determine how to compete internationally to meet Asia’s voracious appetite for energy while at the same time building capacity for our growing domestic needs.”
The web survey conducted by the Spark Group on behalf of the chamber polled 625 members of the business community across the province.
Sixty-eight per cent of those questioned agreed that natural gas should be part of government’s strategy and the Clean Energy Act.
At the same time, 76% of those questioned believe that alternative energy sources could significantly contribute to B.C.’s energy needs.
“B.C. is in the enviable position of having direct access to a multitude of energy sources right here in our back yard. The choice of developing new technology for our own consumption while at the same time building our export market, is ours to make.”
“We must take immediate steps as our competition is racing towards these same opportunities and will not wait for us.”
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV