The organization that advocates on behalf of private-sector renewable energy developers is going on the offensive this year with a campaign to address what it deems to be misinformation in B.C.’s clean energy policy debate.
Clean Energy BC (CEBC) claims that misinformation is largely coming from activist groups that are either caught up in their own ideologies or simply lacking information about the clean energy projects they oppose.
As well, the CEBC is anticipating having to address muddled government rhetoric about clean energy policy as B.C.’s major, but leaderless, political parties joust internally and against each other.
The CEBC believes the current clean energy debate is leaving the public confused and misinformed about the role that run-of-river power in particular has in helping the province meet its future energy needs.
Run-of-river projects continue to be the most polarizing clean energy projects in B.C.
The CEBC, formerly known as the Independent Power Producers of B.C., is reviewing and cataloguing all clean energy projects in B.C. so that it can present case studies to defend projects that come under attack.
As well, the association plans to conduct field trips with more government officials – particularly those in the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans – to run-of-river facilities so that officials get a ground-level sense of the environmental impacts of such projects.
The association’s executive director said the CEBC’s informal campaign is an acknowledgement that the association has to be more proactive in highlighting its members’ role in economic growth and their efforts to minimize the environmental impact of renewable energy projects.
“Underpinning a good part of the anti-clean energy dialogue is an ideological issue,” said Paul Kariya, referring to activist groups that continue to call for public ownership of energy projects.
“If people don’t want the private sector involved, they’re going to use every tool they can to put forward their case.”
While the CEBC and public power proponents are at a stalemate when it comes to constructive debate, Kariya said the association is making more efforts to reach out to citizens and groups concerned about the environmental impacts of some projects.
“I don’t want to understate that all developments have an impact. And in some areas in the past, there have been some issues, [but] the practices of the past are not the practices of today.”
Kariya added that given the current leadership vacuum (or vacuums) in B.C. politics, the association can’t take for granted policies under the Clean Energy Act that support private-sector power development.
“Our champion, Gordon Campbell, is exiting stage left,” Kariya said, “so we’re going to have to make sure that the people who come in with both parties get a good briefing on what our industry is about.”
Private-sector power developers and their opponents tallied wins and losses in 2010.
Some run-of-river projects started producing energy; others lost nearly all their momentum.
BC Hydro’s call for clean power projects last March awarded long-term energy purchase contracts to more than two-dozen developers. This ensures that several power projects will proceed, although Hydro’s call factors in about a 30% project failure rate.
However, Kariya noted that there might not be another call for years.
“If you were to talk to the industry people, they’re quite worried that this industry is going to die on the vine.”
For many activists groups, such as the non-profit Wilderness Committee, the introduction of the Clean Energy Act last April was a galvanizing event.
“We have Gordon Campbell leaving, so we will be saying, ‘Look, this is Mr. Campbell’s project; this is a bad deal,” said Joe Foy, the Wilderness Committee’s national campaign director. “We need a new B.C. energy plan.”
The Wilderness Committee isn’t necessarily opposed to the private sector playing a role in energy generation, but it’s strongly opposed to the rates the private power developers receive from BC Hydro.
They’re multiples of the rates that citizens pay for power.
“If these [projects] get built and [B.C. has] to honour those purchase agreements,” said Foy, “this has a massive ability to hollow out [funding for] things like health care and schools.”
The Wilderness Committee plans to push for an auditor-general’s review of the Clean Energy Act.
As well, the group continues to target projects it considers detrimental to the environment.
Among its primary targets are three run-of-river projects planned for the Upper Lillooet River system near Pemberton.
The projects, which are being developed by Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. and Ledcor Power Group Ltd., would, among other things, disrupt the flow of water over the 25-metre-high Keyhole Falls.
Said Foy: “We’re mobilizing our members and seeking allies with local groups … to fight this off.”