Media release
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy
www.greenenergybc.ca
April 18, 2009
Vancouver, B.C. — Bruce Sanderson from B.C. Citizens for Green Energy says there is growing concern in B.C. that an NDP election victory would leave independent green energy power projects dead in the water and take all of the jobs and clean, renewable electricity these projects create with them.
The NDP officially charted a policy course against independent green energy projects this past week and Sanderson says they are foolishly ignoring prominent environmentalists like David Suzuki and Tzeporah Berman, First Nations and numerous energy experts, all of whom have spoken in support of these projects and the key role they have to play in the fight against global climate change.
“Instead of listening to environmentalists, First Nations and energy experts, the NDP have chosen to fall into lockstep with the aggressive, well-orchestrated misinformation campaign against independent green energy projects being led by the Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union—COPE 378,” Sanderson said. “By doing so, the NDP are putting politics before the planet and walking down a potentially catastrophic path.”
Sanderson says we are currently importing around 15 per cent of our electricity in B.C. because we no longer have enough electricity generation infrastructure to meet demand. Worse yet, he says, most of the electricity we’re importing comes from coal- and gas-fired plants in Alberta and Washington state, among the world’s worst sources of greenhouse gases.
“Importing dirty electricity is an unacceptable situation for B.C. to be in considering the urgency of the climate change crisis and the wealth of opportunities we have in this province to produce electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind, run-of-river, biomass and geothermal,” he said. “Rather than shunning the innovative ability, entrepreneurial skills and specialized technical knowledge of independent power producers, the NDP should be embracing them with open arms as they once did in the days of Mike Harcourt.”
Sanderson says B.C.’s energy future cannot be allowed to fall victim to the myths and misinformation being spread by vested interest groups like COPE 378 (the union that represents BC Hydro employees) and others: “B.C. needs new sources of clean electricity, now and for future generations. It’s that simple!”
Sanderson invites members of the public B.C. Citizens for Green Energy’s responses to the pervasive myths and misinformation being spread against clean, renewable green energy projects in B.C. at www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html. The group also has several short videos on the subject posted on YouTube www.youtube.com/GreenEnergyBC and on their website www.greenenergybc.ca.
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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.