Media release - for immediate release
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy
www.greenenergybc.ca
September 1, 2009
Vancouver, B.C. — This afternoon’s B.C. Budget 2009 makes it clear that green energy is key to the province’s plan to strengthen the economy and create jobs—just as last week’s throne speech made it clear that green energy is one of the cornerstones of British Columbia’s climate action plan.
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy co-spokesperson, David Field, says he’s pleased to see British Columbia’s leadership on climate change, and our growing expertise in the field of green technology, highlighted in the budget as key advantages British Columbia has as the government positions the province for renewed economic growth.
“The world has an enormous need for clean, renewable energy, and becoming a global leader in clean energy and energy conservation will create new jobs and prosperity that will benefit all British Columbians,” Field said. “The throne speech talked about opening up B.C.’s green energy potential with new vigour, and we’re pleased to see this commitment to green energy reflected in the budget,”
Field points to British Columbia’s legacy of clean electricity which has long provided an economic advantage for industrial development and job creation in the province. Developing new sources of clean, renewable green energy, he says, will stimulate new investment and create new jobs and ensure that British Columbia maintains its competitive advantage, now and for future generations.
The one thing about this afternoon’s budget that Field says he’s disappointed with is the lack of information about the new Green Energy Task Force announced in last week’s throne speech.
“We were hoping to hear more about the Green Energy Task Force, and how B.C.’s enormous green energy potential could put us in the driver’s seat for a change by helping Alberta and the western states reduce their reliance on dirty coal-fired and gas-fired electricity and generate substantial new revenues for B.C.,” Field said. “B.C.’s green energy resources could potentially generate enough revenue to wipe out the provincial debt or completely replace the revenue now raised through the provincial sales tax. B.C. could be like Alberta with no sales tax if we were to fully harness our green energy potential.”
Field says everyone in B.C. stands to benefit from the development of our province’s enormous green energy potential. The benefits, he says, will also be there for our children, for our grandchildren, and for many generations to come.
According to last week’s throne speech, the new Green Energy Task Force will review “the policies, incentives and impediments currently affecting B.C.’s green power potential” and help create a plan for maximizing this potential.
According to this afternoon’s budget documents, British Columbia’s clean energy sector has incredible growth potential and the sector now includes more than 250 companies, providing jobs for more than 3,500 people.
Last week’s throne speech also stated that the B.C. Utilities Commission will receive “specific direction” that Burrard Thermal is to be phased out as part of B.C.’s greenhouse gas reduction strategy and that “B.C.’s multiple sources of clean, renewable energy are far preferable to reliance on other dirtier forms of power” like the 1960s era gas-fired Burrard Thermal generating plant near Port Moody.
Further information about green energy is available on the B.C. Citizens for Green Energy website at www.greenenergybc.ca and on the group’s myth busters page www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html.
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For more information contact David Field
Co-spokesperson, B.C. Citizens for Green Energy
604-529-1604
e-mail us at info@greenenergybc.ca
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy is an advocacy group representing a cross-section of British Columbians who encourage a legacy of clean, sustainable electricity for future generations.
www.greenenergybc.ca