Media release - for immediate release
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy
www.greenenergybc.ca
August 25, 2009
B.C. Citizens applaud throne
speech — phase out of
Burrard Thermal spelled out —
“...‘B.C.’s multiple sources of clean, renewable energy
are far preferable to reliance on other dirtier forms
of power’ like Burrard Thermal.... the throne speech
reaffirms green energy as ‘a cornerstone of
British Columbia’s climate action plan’...”
— David Field, co-spokesperson
for
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy —
Vancouver, B.C. — B.C. Citizens for Green Energy are applauding this afternoon’s throne speech and the announcement 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.
David Field, co-spokesperson for B.C. Citizens for Green Energy, says the announcement brings clarity and leadership to a situation created by the B.C. Utilities Commission when they recently decided that B.C.’s growing electricity needs could be met by firing up, to full capacity, the gas-fired Burrard Thermal electrical generating plant located near Port Moody—a step which would have restored Burrard Thermal’s status as the biggest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the province.
“People want action on climate change and our group applauds the clear rejection of Burrard Thermal in the throne speech,” Field said. “It was wrong for the B.C. Utilities Commission to ignore the people by suggesting Burrard thermal should even be fired up at all.”
Field says the public has an expectation that bodies like the B.C. Utilities Commission are listening to their wishes and responding appropriately. In promoting the expanded use of Burrard Thermal, Field says, the BC Utilities Commission failed the public miserably and got things “very, very wrong.”
Field says he is pleased that the throne speech states very clearly that “B.C.’s multiple sources of clean, renewable energy are far preferable to reliance on other dirtier forms of power” like Burrard Thermal.” The throne speech also reaffirms green energy as “a cornerstone of British Columbia’s climate action plan,” as well as the integral role that electricity self-sufficiency and clean, renewable power generation play in the province’s effort to fight global warming.
“B.C. is back on track to becoming a clean energy powerhouse, and I’m pleased the necessary steps are being taken to make sure this happens,” Field said, “including the phase out of Burrard Thermal.”
Field says he is equally pleased that the throne speech says the government “will capitalize on the world’s desire and need for clean energy, for the benefit of all British Columbians,” something B.C. Citizens for Green Energy fully supports because of the economic benefits it would bring to the province.
The throne speech spelled out what these clean energy sources are and they include the development of Site C, run-of-river, wind, tidal, solar, geothermal, bioenergy and biomass.
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