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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 08:00 AM
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So another shoe is about to drop in Greece- because they can't pay their debts, and are threatening to reject the European bail out package terms, the Greek energy company DEPA, which gets its gas from Turkish, Russian, and Italian suppliers of natural gas, which power most of Greece's power plants, claims it will be forced to cut off supplies because it can't pay it's bills.
You can read more about it here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/01/us-greece-power-idUSBRE8500ML20120601
I can't believe the arrogance and naivety of the socialist leader Alexis Tsipras, who basically is saying that Greeks can thumb their noses at the Europeans who they already owe billions to, and still expect to get more bailout money: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-06/greek-election-surprise-rejects-barbarism-of-bailout-austerity.html
In Canada, we so take for granted the long term prudent financial planning that was done by the Liberals and is now being continued by the Conservatives that has put us into our current state of financial stability, where we have money to pay for education, health care, etc. better than just about anyone else in the world.
We are the envy of the world- but many Canadians don't seem to realize how good we've got it! |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 09:02 AM
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The precedent was set by Iceland, whose population rejected the austerity plan devised by the EU to repay failed banks like IceSave. By refusing EU demands for repayment, Iceland has done considerably better (economically) than states like Greece, Ireland, or Spain.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/iceland-the-broken-economy-that-got-out-of-jail-2349905.html
My impression is that the Greek socialists intend to copy Iceland's example.
As for Harper's alleged fiscal prudence, I cannot agree. The bill for F-35s will be at least $30 billion. Toys for the navy will be another $200 billion. Then there is the americainization of the justice system, likely to cost at least $10 billion. IMHO, these are expensive, unnecessary, and unwanted.
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Vancouver
109 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 09:17 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
... I was very often stunned and demoralized by the ill-informed and often blatantly ignorant writings of journalists in papers like the Sun and Province.
Actually, most of the articles in those tabloids are simple-minded, incorrect, or blatantly biased misrepresentations. They are even worse on scientific, economic, or political matters. I try not to read them - it just gives me indigestion.
Yeah that's what I mean. Unfortunately, way too many people base all of their beliefs on these poorly researched and mistaken rants rather than forming rational informed opinions. Sadly, you are in the minority if you think for yourself. |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
2441 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 2:50 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by oldmatt
To pmichaels
Thanks for your cogent points. I am not as familiar with the Garibaldi Park area as you are. Your point 3 is the key: managing the area by opening up an alternative access point and discouraging access in a previously used area to allow natural renewal is a great idea.
For point 6, I agree there are lots of visits into untrailed areas. But I don’t think that this is a problem below the alpine. Even though I occasionally see some marks by a previous person, the only thing that really bothers me are isolated flagging sets in the middle of nowhere. They seem to last for years. Everything else made by unmechanized man and not continually used falls back into wilderness in short time. This is with the caveat that the area is not overrun by us humans.
However, I think the best way of “preserving” wilderness areas is managing/minimizing car access that goes deep into an area. That is why I was unhappy with the Ashlu development, and have some skepticism on other developments. Your points and explanations have me a lot less concerned for this trail.
Your no-willy-nilly post is bang on for designated wilderness parks. We, the knowledgeable back country community, need to remember and promote this. We are also lucky with access to huge amounts of crown land however, and that is where I like to go willy nilly.
Unfortunately sporadic flagging can come from a variety of sources; from Foresters, to line cutters, surveyors, mineral claims, and even SAR tasks. It not only lasts for years, it also is of interest to bears and deer as a food source. GPS plotting is eliminating alot of the need for flagging and hipchain thread but it is still out there in use. |
Edited by - pmicheals on 06/01/2012 2:51 PM |
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Van., BC
Canada
274 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2012 : 11:18 PM
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Rafe Mair from May 13:
This is neither a complicated nor a long story – but it’s a tragic vindication for a hell of a lot of people who have been telling the story, ignored at best, more often vilified.
Look at page 1 of the story in the Vancouver Sun, May 11 under the heading "HYDRO AWASH IN PRIVATE POWER", where you’ll see that BC Hydro is spilling water over its dams and missing a chance to make a huge profit and is, instead, sustaining a crippling loss all by reason of corrupt bargains it’s been forced to make with private companies.
Ask yourself how Hydro could lose money in one of the wettest years in history, when their reservoirs are chock-a-block full?
It’s because of the gross negligence of the Campbell/Clark government – supported by the mainstream media (which has refused to do its job and investigate the private power plan – a plan which compels Hydro to buy private power at double+ the market price.)
Yes, folks, the chickens I’ve been writing about for years have indeed come home to roost – BC Hydro is buying private power while spilling its own water over the dams. Your power company, instead of using the water in its reservoirs to make power for British Columbians, lets it spill away, unused, while it pours money into grasping private hands at immense profits to them and immense losses to us.
Moreover, BC Hydro – such is the surplus of power in the US – could be buying Bonneville Dam power for a song and flipping it into a neat profit.
The exposure of the evils of the so-called “run of river” scheme was first published by Dr. John Calvert in his book, Liquid Gold, which exposure has been re-emphasized by too many power experts to mention – though one must point out the work of our resident economist Erik Andersen, who has been putting the price of these corporate rip-offs in language we can all understand.
We at the Common Sense Canadian have had super back-up from our contributors. It’s dangerous to list some for fear of offending others but as the official spokesperson for the Common Sense Canadian I must give special thanks to John Calvert, Marvin Rosenau, Larry Dill, Joe Foy, Otto Langer, Rex Weyler and so many others who weren’t afraid to stick their heads above the parapet.
Do Damien and I feel vindicated?
You're damned right we do, though it leaves a very bitter taste. For nearly three years we’ve traveled this province from meeting to meeting, trailed by power company stooges putting out the bullshit that we weren’t telling the truth while having no “facts” of their own to put forward. We’ve seen local media reporters have their reports of our meetings spiked by editors told from above to make no mention of our evidence. We’ve searched and waited in vain for just one major media editor to back up the simple truths we were disseminating.
The momentary pleasure that comes with vindication is massively overwhelmed when one tots up the damage including the destruction of 75 rivers and streams and the ecologies they sustain, with hundreds more to come; the destruction of salmon runs and resident Rainbows, Cutthroat, Dolly Varden and Bull Trout; clear-cuts for utterly unnecessary roads and transmission lines; the incalculable loss of wildlife; and last but scarcely least, the bankruptcy of BC Hydro (the only reason it isn’t officially bankrupt is that it can always raise money by raising rates and obtaining grants from the government – this means that British Columbia, its citizens and industries are bankrolling slick, greedy corporations as they cheerfully comply with the secret sweetheart deals the Campbell/Clark government has forced BC Hydro to give them. Yes, the profits from these corrupt deals are, for the most part, sailing out of the province directly out of your pockets and mine..
British Columbia has the right to have this whole sordid mess investigated – we are also entitled to a media that delves into this grossly negligent government action and lays the facts out before us.
I cannot leave without making special mention of Tom Rankin, who spent a fortune in his Save Our Rivers Society bringing the truth to the people. Damien and I are both much in his debt and the Common Sense Canadian was, in large part, inspired by Tom’s sacrifices.
There it is, folks, the truth is out and, in all likelihood, they’ll all get away with it. |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 9:30 PM
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I don't have time to respond to every one of the outrageous statements made by Rafe Mair- but let me at least try to address a few.
quote:
Originally posted by Michel
Rafe Mair from May 13:
This is neither a complicated nor a long story – but it’s a tragic vindication for a hell of a lot of people who have been telling the story, ignored at best, more often vilified.
Look at page 1 of the story in the Vancouver Sun, May 11 under the heading "HYDRO AWASH IN PRIVATE POWER", where you’ll see that BC Hydro is spilling water over its dams and missing a chance to make a huge profit and is, instead, sustaining a crippling loss all by reason of corrupt bargains it’s been forced to make with private companies.
Ask yourself how Hydro could lose money in one of the wettest years in history, when their reservoirs are chock-a-block full?
So here is a picture of Downton Lake dam at Gold Bridge, B.C. taken on April 21, 2012, at about the time that this story was being researched.
Sure doesn't look to me like the reservoir is anywhere near full, and spilling water over La Joie Dam. I was just there again today, and the reservoir looks even more empty! So much for the claim that B.C. Hydro has full reservoirs and is not using the water to make a huge profit.
Here is a view of La Joie dam itself- looks pretty empty and full of sediment!
And while we're on the subject- look at the massive amount of sediment that Downton Lake reservoir generates when the lake level is allowed to drop- every side creek mobilizes sediment- and look at the colour of the water as a result!! Call Rafe Mair- and don't forget to ask him to bring his 10,000 dump trucks to clean out the sediment!
However, it is correct that right now, during the Spring freshet, all the run of river power projects are running at full capacity. But is it not better to let the IPP's generate power at fair prices that are LESS than what any of B.C. Hydro's newer facilities can produce power at, and allow their big heritage reservoirs to fill up so that we have as much power as possible for the summer and fall, and maybe even a surplus in this heavy snow year to sell on the North American market in the summer when prices are high, and we can use the profits to offset our own rates.
I don't know the story of why Daisy Lake wasn't producing power- maybe it was down for maintenance work. More important, though, the Daisy Lake reservoir is very small and can't hold more than a couple of days worth of water before it has to spill.
quote:
It’s because of the gross negligence of the Campbell/Clark government – supported by the mainstream media (which has refused to do its job and investigate the private power plan – a plan which compels Hydro to buy private power at double+ the market price.)
Yes, folks, the chickens I’ve been writing about for years have indeed come home to roost – BC Hydro is buying private power while spilling its own water over the dams. Your power company, instead of using the water in its reservoirs to make power for British Columbians, lets it spill away, unused, while it pours money into grasping private hands at immense profits to them and immense losses to us.
"Gross negligence of the Campbell/Clark government....."????? The government has no direct involvement; B.C. Hydro is an independent corporation and the price of power is established through negotiation with them; and they are very much in the driver's seat. So to first of all accuse anyone negotiating in good faith of "gross negligence" is a little over the top, and to point the finger at a party that has nothing to do with those negotiations is patently unfair and rude.
quote:
Moreover, BC Hydro – such is the surplus of power in the US – could be buying Bonneville Dam power for a song and flipping it into a neat profit.
How can we be "awash in power" and somehow buy surplus power in the U.S.? And who are we going to sell to if there is a surplus??
And people like Rafe Mair have a bad habit of comparing the price paid to IPP's with the wholesale price of power, as quoted by Bonneville, for example. The wholesale price does NOT include the price of transforming the power to a voltage where it can be used, or for transmitting it over power lines. So if Rafe Mair claims that the IPP's are being paid x2 what the going rate is, ask him if he's really comparing apples with apples.
quote:
You're damned right we do, though it leaves a very bitter taste. For nearly three years we’ve traveled this province from meeting to meeting, trailed by power company stooges putting out the bullshit that we weren’t telling the truth while having no “facts” of their own to put forward. We’ve seen local media reporters have their reports of our meetings spiked by editors told from above to make no mention of our evidence. We’ve searched and waited in vain for just one major media editor to back up the simple truths we were disseminating.
Could it perhaps be the case that nothing is being published because the editors of completely independent media entities in B.C. simply can't substantiate the claims that are being made by Rafe Mair and Company. In my experience, editors are a pretty responsible lot who want to verify facts before they publish them. Could it be that Rafe Mair simply has no credibility.
quote:
The momentary pleasure that comes with vindication is massively overwhelmed when one tots up the damage including the destruction of 75 rivers and streams and the ecologies they sustain, with hundreds more to come; the destruction of salmon runs and resident Rainbows, Cutthroat, Dolly Varden and Bull Trout; clear-cuts for utterly unnecessary roads and transmission lines; the incalculable loss of wildlife;
Every single IPP project has to go through a rigorous environmental assessment, conducted by Registered Qualified Biologists- both in government and in private, independent practice. Only if they all agree that the environmental impacts are acceptable can a project go ahead. So I challenge Rafe to show me just one example of where there has been the destruction of a salmon run by an IPP! Furthermore, as I've said so many times before- if you really want to save the salmon and the rainbows, and the cut-throats, and the Dolly Varden- BAN THE EATING OF SALMON AND SUSHI!! More fish are killed every day for the restaurant business than will ever be killed by all the run of river projects in the Province combined! And while we're at it- BAN THE BARBARIC SPORT OF FISHING! Sure, some fishermen claim they catch and release, but I bet for every release, there are a thousand fish that are clubbed and eaten!
quote:
and last but scarcely least, the bankruptcy of BC Hydro (the only reason it isn’t officially bankrupt is that it can always raise money by raising rates and obtaining grants from the government – this means that British Columbia, its citizens and industries are bankrolling slick, greedy corporations as they cheerfully comply with the secret sweetheart deals the Campbell/Clark government has forced BC Hydro to give them. Yes, the profits from these corrupt deals are, for the most part, sailing out of the province directly out of your pockets and mine
If B.C. Hydro is on the way towards bankruptcy, it is only because their power projects cost far more per megawatt than anything that the private sector builds. The Aberfeldie project near Cranbook cost about $8-$9 million per megawatt, compared to a cost of $3.5 to $4.5 million for a typical small hydro project.
The Site "C" dam, if it is ever built, will do far more environmental damage than all the run of river projects in the Province combined, and will end up producing power at a rate that I suspect will be in the $8 to $15 per megawatt range.
And what sweetheart deals??? B.C. Hydro is buying power from IPP's for rates that are typically far lower than what it would cost B.C. Hydro to produce new power. And remember, B.C. Hydro has firm prices from these IPP's for the next 30 to 40 years. Yes, it is a bit of a gamble- but I suspect that the price of power will only go up, and B.C. Hydro may very well end up making a handsome profit from the purchase of power from IPP's.
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Edited by - FrankB on 06/05/2012 10:09 PM |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 10:16 PM
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| Rafe shouldn't worry though- with all the shale gas about to come on the market, and the fuss that people make about clean, renewable, carbon-free run of river power projects, I suspect that they will soon be phased out, and we will go back to fossil fuels for years to come. |
Edited by - FrankB on 06/05/2012 10:17 PM |
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 | LeeL
Advanced Member
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Extreme ski tourin, mountain bikin addict who hikes at least once a year
2507 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 10:42 PM
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| For a journalist Michel appears to be sheep. Maybe its time for you to get educated Michel |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1009 Posts |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2012 : 11:14 PM
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Without getting into a debate about whether the Tyee WEB site provides accurate and credible information, let me just answer by making the following comments:
1. All independent private power companies must sell their power to B.C. Hydro and generally, must transmit their power to a substation, and then into the B.C. Hydro grid- and can only do so if B.C. Hydro offers them a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Without a PPA, a project is dead in the water. There is an exception- the so-called Standing Offer Program, but this has onerous restrictions, and only applies to projects of less than 15 megawatts, so neither Klinaklini or Bute would be eligible.
2. B.C. Hydro has previously rejected both the Klinaklini projects, and the Bute Inlet projects- so these projects currently have no hope of proceeding! I don't know all of the reasons why B.C. Hydro rejected them- but I suspect that the environmental issues and the fact that the power would be produced in an area that either doesn't need power, or doesn't have the transmission capacity to handle the extra load, would have been big factors.
3. The Bute Inlet projects would need to run their power through a new transmission line going down to Toba Inlet, and from there down an existing transmission line to a substation at Saltery Bay, south of Powell River. Now Alterra Power, which is a new company formed by the merger of Plutonic Power and Magma Energy, has power purchase agreements (PPA's) for their four Toba River projects- but so far, have only been able to develop two of them. I suspect that the high cost of building the first two projects has so far not made it possible for them to develop the other two- which begs the question of why they would even be thinking of doing anything in Bute Inlet, where the projects would be even more expensive to build, and they don't have a PPA, when they haven't been able to construct their remaining Toba projects. Another big factor: the Saltery Bay substation currently has no extra capacity to handle the Bute Inlet power, even if it was available!
4. If I recall correctly, Klinaklini Power would need to run their transmission line over to Vancouver Island, just south of the beautiful Broughton Archipelago- a prime boating destination and route for the Alaska cruise ships. This would be both very expensive, and likely create major public opposition. The Klinaklini area also has some geothermal potential-but this is so remote, and would be so expensive to explore and develop, that it is not likely to happen.
5. So B.C. Hydro has given no indication that they will be putting out a new call for power anytime soon, let alone offer a PPA to either the Klinaklini or the Bute projects. Why? As I've said before- the monster hiding in the closet is shale gas- which is going to turn the world's energy scene upside down! Shale gas is being found in massive quantities world-wide, so is going to be plentiful and cheap for a long time to come. It also provides base load energy (produces power almost all the time) and produces half the carbon that coal does.
So this may be a classic example of the Tyee, and similar anti-IPP groups, getting exactly what they really don't want. Instead of carbon-free, small footprint, environmentally-friendly, renewable run of river power projects, we're instead going to be building massive, carbon emitting, non-renewable natural gas fired power plants, and continue to live on fossil fuels for years to come!
The entire renewable energy industry is probably pretty worried right now- because with cheap shale gas, they are going to have a difficult time competing with natural gas fired power plants. And this applies especially to wind farms and run of river power projects, which need to have, respectively, wind or water to operate. |
Edited by - FrankB on 06/19/2012 11:38 PM |
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100 Mile House, BC
Canada
177 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 10:43 AM
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Why would the BC Govt mandate that BC Hydro have a surplus of power, when the new sources of power (IPPs) cost more than what BC Hydro can export for?
Quote:
"So much for the claim that B.C. Hydro has full reservoirs and is not using the water to make a huge profit."
According to this site, snow pack around the Williston Reservoir is mostly high right now:
http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/data/asp/realtime/basin_northeast.htm |
Edited by - HT on 06/20/2012 11:00 AM |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 11:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by HT
Why would the BC Govt mandate that BC Hydro have a surplus of power, when the new sources of power (IPPs) cost more than what BC Hydro can export for?
I attended the B.C. Hydro planning meeting in Terrace last week, and they claim this is absolutely not true.
I don't have time right now to respond in more detail- but B.C. Hydro's planning documents are all available on-line, and any statements with regard to this issue should be referenced to a credible source. |
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100 Mile House, BC
Canada
177 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 6:14 PM
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"(2) The authority (BC Hydro) must achieve electricity self-sufficiency by holding,
(a) by the year 2016 and each year after that, the rights to an amount of electricity that meets the electricity supply obligations, and
(b) by the year 2020 and each year after that, the rights to 3 000 gigawatt hours of energy, in addition to the amount of electricity referred to in paragraph (a), and the capacity required to integrate that energy."
From the BC Clean Energy Act, Sec 6:
http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th2nd/1st_read/gov17-1.htm#section6 |
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100 Mile House, BC
Canada
177 Posts |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1422 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 6:38 PM
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| According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Treaty BC's entitlement under the columbia river treaty is roughly 4400GWh per year. So even if we have 'rights' to our own demand plus 3000GWh we will still be net importers. The Columbia river treaty can be terminated after 2024, and at that point the 4400GWh entitlement could disappear. |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 9:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by HT
"(2) The authority (BC Hydro) must achieve electricity self-sufficiency by holding,
(a) by the year 2016 and each year after that, the rights to an amount of electricity that meets the electricity supply obligations, and
(b) by the year 2020 and each year after that, the rights to 3 000 gigawatt hours of energy, in addition to the amount of electricity referred to in paragraph (a), and the capacity required to integrate that energy."
From the BC Clean Energy Act, Sec 6:
http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th2nd/1st_read/gov17-1.htm#section6
This is a worthy goal- we shouldn't be dependent on imported power from either Washington or Alberta- especially if we have no control over how that power is generated.
But remember, we could meet this obligation by building combined cycle gas turbine generation plants (CCGT) that use shale gas- of which we probably have hundreds of years worth of reserves. CCGT plants provide base load energy and produce only half the carbon emissions that coal does. Of course, they are still non-renewable sources of energy.
Now one of the other goals of the BC Clean Energy Act is to maximize our use of renewable, carbon-free energy- but I suspect that this will disappear- certainly in talking with some of the senior guys at B.C. Hydro and reading between the lines of what our premier is saying, I suspect that this admirable goal will be quietly shelved. And don't expect the NDP, if they are elected to reverse this- they are opposed to run of river power projects, and surely are smart enough to realize that wind farms are just too expensive and inefficient (30% or less capacity factor) to be viable when compared to shale gas. |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 10:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by HT
The massive Bute Inlet IPP appears to be back on the table:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/987781/sliammon-first-nation-and-alterra-power-sign-resource-development-agreement
This is when BC Hydro is shutting down its own turbines, because it has to purchase power from IPPs at high cost, even though the IPP power isn't needed?
Alterra Power may be claiming that Bute is back on the table, but without a Power Purchase Agreement, that claim is a pipe dream. I talked to a senior B.C. Hydro planner recently and he claimed there are no plans for another call for power anytime soon, let alone a re-think of their utter rejection of the Bute projects a few years ago.
Remember, Alterra Power is a public company that is in the business of buying and selling stock, so anything that makes the stock price go up is good. Their IPO a couple of years ago was $1.50 and the stock closed today at $0.45, so no wonder they are making the claims that they are. |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 10:50 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by scottN
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Treaty BC's entitlement under the columbia river treaty is roughly 4400GWh per year. So even if we have 'rights' to our own demand plus 3000GWh we will still be net importers. The Columbia river treaty can be terminated after 2024, and at that point the 4400GWh entitlement could disappear.
Sure- my understanding is that even now, we could claw back at least some of our power under the Columbia River treaty.
But there are two big problems with that:
1. We get a huge amount of money for "selling" that power to Bonneville Power in Washington State, especially during peak times. That money helps keep our own domestic rates low. Without that income, our electricity rates will have to go up.
2. Once we claw back that power, Bonneville will be forced to produce additional power to make up the shortfall- which most likely will come from coal-fired generating plants (60% of U.S. power production comes from coal-fired generating plants). So that will add to greenhouse gas emissions big times and, of course, those gases don't stop at the 49th parallel and will impact Canada just as much as they will the rest of the world. |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2012 : 10:25 AM
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So could someone please explain to me why Joe Foy, Rafe Mair and the NDP are utterly opposed to private, renewable, carbon-free run of river power projects selling excess energy (not a tangible commodity like oil, timber, minerals, or salmon) to the U.S. or other buyers, but don't seem to have a problem with private companies exploiting non-renewable, carbon-emitting oil, gas, and coal resources located on Crown Land, and selling those resources as fast as we can to the highest bidder in China, Japan, the U.S., etc. The Provincial NDP has announced that they support the development of shale gas resources by those evil PRIVATE energy companies (horrors!)- and so unlike their Quebec counterparts, don't have a problem with fracking and other shale gas deposit issues.
And on another note with regard to how shale gas deposits are going to change the world's geopolitical scene- Israel announced yesterday that it is now getting gas from the first of its vast offshore shale gas deposits, putting an end to its dependence on natural gas from Egypt. By next year, they should be well on their way to energy independence, and won't have to rely on others to provide their basic energy needs.
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100 Mile House, BC
Canada
177 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2012 : 8:37 PM
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There are about 74 IPPs in BC, and 52 more in development:
http://www.bchydro.com/energy_in_bc/acquiring_power/meeting_energy_needs/how_power_is_acquired.html
The IPPs in BC pretty much sell only to BC Hydro. They don't export to the US or Alberta. The only reason the IPPs in BC are getting built is because BC Hydro is buying their power for much more than they would get for it if they could sell it in the US.
When BC Hydro has an excess of power, they can export to the US. But it appears they are exporting for less than what they pay for power from IPPs.
BC Hydro owes about $42 billion to IPPs for power for up to 30 years or more, whether or not it actually needs the power.
The BC Govt has set up this situation, which favours IPPs, and will lead to the bankruptcy of BC Hydro. This Govt is incompetent and corrupt.
So for example, look at the Ashlu IPP. This project is producing power that BC Hydro doesn't actually need, yet will be paying $millions for, for years to come. This project has been criticized for its impact on fish. The Kokish River IPP also has been criticized for its affects on fish habitat. All to create power not needed BC Hydro, which BC Hydro will sell at a loss, which will lead to higher hydro rates for all of us.
Hydro rates are going up. The reason they have not so far is because BC Hydro has been hiding its losses in 27 deferral accounts, for which the BC Auditor General has recently criticized BC Hydro.
So I may visit a beautiful BC creek, like Kokish, Ashlu, Mamquam, Kwoiek and many many more, and see an industrial hydro project selling un-needed power to BC Hydro, possibly ruining fish habitat, and unnecessarily causing our hydro rates to go up.
How many more creeks will be blighted by power plants, hydro lines etc?
The natural gas plan of the BC Govt, if it goes ahead, would need a huge amount of subsidized power from BC Hydro, meaning a need for Site C, and many more IPPs. And more losses for BC Hydro, since newly aquired power costs more than what it is sold for. |
Edited by - HT on 06/25/2012 8:54 PM |
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Culliton Creek Hydroelectric Project
