June 30, 2012 — Letter to the Editor — Renewable resources the answer to energy needs (By Bruce Sanderson, Kamloops Daily News: June 29, 2012)...

B.C. Hydro recently updated its energy forecast for the province and the new numbers (contained in B.C. Hydro’s draft integrated resource plan) show that electricity demand in this province will grow by a whopping 50 per cent over the next 20 years; from the current 56,838 gigawatt hours of electricity per year to 89,590 gigawatt hours per year by 2032... (click here to continue reading). 

May 30, 2012 — Cummins Con candidate comes to colossally incorrect clean energy conclusions — BCCGE Livewire Blog......

In recent weeks, the boys in the BCCGE mailroom have been diligently scouring the internet and newspapers looking for signs of the next outbreak of "public versus private" propaganda dressed up as environmental issues. But the boys weren't quite ready for what they encountered on Monday; namely, a highly misinformed opinion piece in the Vancouver Sun by Cummins Cons candidate Rick Peterson. For those not fully up to speed on B.C..... (click here to continue reading). 

May 16, 2012 — Letter to the Editor — Stacey’s view reassuring (By David Field, Gulf Islands Driftwood: May 2, 2012)...

I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Stacey’s amusingly creative take on the smart-meter issue (“How to break up with your dumb meter,” April 25 Driftwood). Mr. Stacey beautifully encapsulates the emotional lunacy surrounding the small but noisy opposition to smart meters. Well done! In my experience, a typical anti-smart-meter rant is as crazy and as poorly informed as Mr. Stacey has portrayed.... (click here to continue reading). 

April 25, 2012 — Letter to the Editor — Don't blame smart meters (By David Field, Burnaby Now: April 20, 2012)...

Anyone who claims that their hydro bill jumped drastically once a smart meter was installed needs to consider the following fact: B.C. Hydro smart meters are still being read manually for billing purposes. Manual meter reading will continue until the entire smart meter network and backend computer systems are in place later this year. Yes, installed smart meters are transmitting data, but that data is not yet being used for billing purposes.... (click here to continue reading). 

March 13, 2012 — Meanwhile, back in the BCCGE mailroom… — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Although it’s been fairly quiet on the green energy front for the past few months, the boys in the BCCGE mailroom have not been idle. They’ve been actively monitoring the various goings on in the energy sector and working through the piles of accumulated material tying up prime desktop real estate. Meanwhile, the usual anti-green-energy suspects have been doing… well, exactly what you’d expect them to be doing: Spreading misinformation about everything from run-of-river projects to smart meters.... (click here to continue reading). 

December 22, 2011 — Media Release — Top 10 reasons to support renewable energy in 2012...

B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE) has released its list of the Top Ten reasons to support renewable green energy development in B.C. in 2012. BCCGE co-spokesperson, David Field, says there are dozens of reasons to support the development of B.C.’s renewable green energy resources, but ten key reasons stand out.... (click here to continue reading). 

November 5, 2011 — Media Release — BCCGE applauds $17 million clean energy vehicle announcement...

B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE) is applauding the provincial government’s $17 million funding announcement to help get B.C. consumers into clean energy vehicles and support B.C.’s green-tech sector. BCCGE co-spokesperson David Field, who was present at today’s announcement, says making clean energy transportation options more affordable for consumers and getting more electric, hydrogen and natural gas powered vehicles on the road is a good thing.... (click here to continue reading). 

October 25, 2011 — Media Release — New electricity loads set to dramatically increase demand in B.C...

B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE) co-spokesperson David Field says recently-released forecasts of electricity demand in B.C. prove that now is not the time for B.C. to abandon the goal of electricity self-sufficiency. Field recently delivered this important message to the all-party Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services comprised of BC Liberal and NDP members of the provincial legislature during their province-wide public consultation process.... (click here to continue reading). 

October 12, 2011 — BCCGE presents to the SSCFG — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Yesterday, David Field (one of our BCCGE co-spokespersons) made a short presentation to the all-party Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. The Committee has been holding province-wide public consultations based on the Ministry of Finance’s Budget 2012 Consultation Paper and is also accepting responses via an on-line survey as well as by written and video submissions through their website.... (click here to continue reading). 

October 6, 2011 — Time to support what we’ve already started — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

“If ever there was a time for supporters of renewable green energy development in B.C. to write to their MLAs to voice their support, now would be the time. Particularly if your MLA sits on the government side of the legislature; because it’s the government side MLAs who will soon render a decision to either accept, reject or modify the recommendations contained in the recent BC Hydro rate review report (including the recommendation to redefine “self-sufficiency” in a way that waters down the current policy and the clear economic, environmental and social objectives it embodies).... (click here to continue reading). 

October 4, 2011 — Media Release — How will we power the B.C. Jobs Plan?: BCCGE...

“Mines consume a lot of energy, and the Jobs Plan calls for eight new mines by 2015, and expansion of at least nine existing mines; so we have to ask where the electricity is going to come from to power these mines....We need to do it right; we need to serve load growth from new industrial activity the right way with clean energy from renewable sources.” — David Field, co-spokesperson, B.C. Citizens for Green Energy.... (click here to continue reading). 

September 29, 2011 — Media Release — Renewable energy creates B.C. jobs province-wide...

“There’s certainly going to be heightened job activity in the Northeast and Northwest of B.C. under the Jobs Plan, but developing B.C.’s renewable clean energy resources would create jobs all over the province, helping all B.C. communities and particularly First Nations communities." — David Field, co-spokesperson, B.C. Citizens for Green Energy.... (click here to continue reading). 

September 20, 2011 — Beware the dark side — coal power’s allure — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

The recently released review of BC Hydro’s proposed rate increase has generated a fair bit of discussion over the past couple of weeks. In fact, we may be a little guilty of understatement in characterizing things that way, because in some quarters the review has stirred the pot considerably and garnered a significant amount of public attention and media commentary.... (click here to continue reading). 

August 29, 2011 — Media Release — Stay the course with energy self-sufficiency policy: BCCGE...

Vancouver, B.C. — B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE) is calling on the provincial government to think carefully before abandoning the policy of electricity self-sufficiency enshrined in B.C.’s Clean Energy Act. The call to proceed carefully comes in response to a recent review of BC Hydro’s proposed 32 percent rate increase application to the B.C. Utilities Commission and the province’s desire to see the proposed increase reduced.... (click here to continue reading). 

August 19, 2011 — Media Release — IPPs not to blame for BC Hydro rate increases...

Vancouver, B.C. — B.C. Citizens for Green Energy co-spokesperson, David Field, wants the public to know there is no truth to the claim that BC Hydro rates are increasing because of independent green energy producers. His warning comes in the wake of a high level review of BC Hydro’s request to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a rate increase, an increase which would have seen hydro rates rise by 32 percent over the next three years.... (click here to continue reading). 

August 17, 2011 — BC Hydro review riles frantic COPE 378 — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

The eagerly awaited BC Hydro rate review report released last week has created quite a stir.  And especially so over at COPE 378 headquarters where they’re fuming mad, stomping their feet, and generally reacting like a swarm of angry hornets whose cosy nest just got whacked with a major league baseball bat. Faster than you can say “public versus private,” the indignant folks at COPE 378 have pushed the COPE 378 myth machine into overdrive.... (click here to continue reading). 

August 8, 2011 — Building a kitchen nuclear reactor 'for fun' — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Some people are so desperate to find a source of clean, non-emitting energy that they'll do just about anything to obtain it. Take, for example, the news item we just read about a man in Sweden who apparently tried to build a nuclear reactor in his kitchen. That's right: he tried to build a nuclear reactor in his kitchen. And he appears to have come close to succeeding! .... (click here to continue reading). 

July 27, 2011 — High marks for Toba Montrose from FPB — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

With so much cold, crappy weather here in B.C. over the past few months - coupled with the apparent cancellation of anything remotely resembling summer - we recently decided to unchain the boys in the BCCGE mailroom from their desks every once in a while so they can go outside and experience a few of the rare days of sunshine that have managed to materialize.  And once we explained to our beleaguered, overworked boys that the big fiery object in the sky was not something hurled at them with malevolent intent by the staff at COPE 378 headquarters, they seemed to calm down and even appeared to enjoy themselves .... (click here to continue reading). 

May 3, 2011 — Breaking down BC Hydro’s rate increase — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

A virtual cornucopia of fascinating information flows through the BCCGE mailroom every day. It’s literally more information than the guys could ever possibly hope to sift through and process in its entirety. But they never fail to ferret out the most important items and bring them to everyone’s attention. Last week was no exception. That’s when an email came our way quantifying the very minor impact that electricity purchases from independent green energy producers is going to have on rising BC Hydro rates.... (click here to continue reading). 

March 29, 2011 — Smart people, smart meters — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

We have to confess: We’re big fans of Black Press-BCLocalnews.com legislative reporter and columnist Tom Fletcher.  He never fails to do his research and he always cuts to the heart of a matter; illuminating folly and fools with his sharp wit, his logic and his dry humour.  In short: He knows his stuff. Along with Sean Leslie, Vaughn Palmer, Keith Baldrey, Michael Smyth, Scott Simpson and Bill Good, Fletcher is part of what the boys in the BCCGE mailroom like to call the “Mercury Seven” of B.C. journalists — a group of journalists with the right stuff who have shown themselves to be well-informed and highly knowledgeable about B.C.’s energy sector.... (click here to continue reading). 

March 13, 2011 — Delta council refuses to show Gillis video — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Anyone who’s been following renewable energy issues in B.C. over the past few years will be familiar with videos made by Rafe Mair’s sidekick Damien Gillis.  In fact, there are many out there who would argue that Mair’s misinformed bombast in the print realm is only exceeded by Gillis’s equally misinformed bombast in the video realm. Well it seems that Gillis has been throwing a bit of a tantrum over Delta city council’s refusal to show one of his videos at a public hearing.... (click here to continue reading). 

March 7, 2011 — The battle rages on: colds, flu and all! — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Like a lot of people right about now, the boys in the BCCGE mailroom are hacking and coughing, and moaning and groaning, their way through the prolonged peak of the cold and flu season.  But they’re soldiering on as best they can and keeping close tabs on emerging green energy issues here in B.C. And lots is going on! Our co-spokesperson David Field, for example, has responded to several misinformed letters-to-the-editor in recent weeks, notably in the Grand Forks Gazette, Kamloops This Week, and the Barriere Star Journal.... (click here to continue reading). 

March 2, 2011 — David Field talks with CKNW’s Sean Leslie — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Our thanks to CKNW’s Sean Leslie for having our BCCGE co-spokesperson, David Field, as a guest on his show last Sunday afternoon.  It was a great segment if we do say so ourselves. If you happen to have missed the show you can listen to an archived copy of the broadcast from CKNW’s Audio Vault.... (click here to continue reading). 

February 24, 2011 — Media Release — BCCGE applauds BC Hydro’s $6 billion regeneration plan...

B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE) is applauding BC Hydro’s $6 billion, three-year “regeneration plan” which will significantly upgrade the crown utility’s aging electricity generating and transmission infrastructure.... (click here to continue reading). 

February 8, 2011 — Ontario's clean energy sector is booming — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

The boys in the BCCGE mailroom spotted something very interesting this morning while sifting through the mail and email. It was an article on Business Wire indicating that "Ontario has already attracted more than $16 billion in private sector investment in the clean energy sector, and over 20 companies have announced plans to set up or expand operations in Ontario.".... (click here to continue reading). 

January 28, 2011 — ‘Heated’ debate over incandescent bulbs — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

The phase-out of incandescent light bulbs in Canada has certainly generated some heated discussion over the past month, undoubtedly the result of the sudden disappearance of incandescent bulbs from store shelves across the country.... (click here to continue reading). 

January 25, 2011 — Schwarzenegger: “girlie-men” afraid to fail — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Although California’s two-term gubernatorial limit stopped Arnold Schwarzenegger from running for a third term as governor, it hasn’t stopped his steadfast support for clean energy.... (click here to continue reading). 

January 18, 2011 — New Year; Old Myths — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Now that 2011 is well underway it means we’ll soon be celebrating BCCGE’s third birthday.  Yes, it was in mid-March 2008 that we officially launched our homemade BCCGE website, and ever since we’ve been diligently challenging the outrageous myths and misinformation directed at the private sector and independently produced green energy by persons and groups associated with the public sector COPE 378 union... (click here to continue reading). 

January 3, 2011 — Media Release — Top 10 reasons to support renewable energy in 2011....

The new coat of paint may still be wet on 2011 but that’s no reason not to kick the year off with a fresh look at the economic, environmental and social benefits of renewable green energy. So says David Field from B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE), and he’s compiled a list of the top ten reasons to support the development of renewable green energy in B.C. in 2011.... (click here to continue reading). 

December 30, 2010 — Media Release — 2010: A banner year for
green energy in B.C....

Despite an uncertain and pessimistic start, 2010 has turned out to be a banner year for green energy development in B.C. and things are looking very positive for 2011 according to B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (BCCGE) co-spokesperson Bruce Sanderson... (click here to continue reading). 

December 11, 2010 — Letter to the Editor — Changes can be made to combat warming (by David Field, The Nanaimo Daily News: December 11, 2010)...

Although it sounds like something straight out of an Austin Powers movie, scientists at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun are seriously considering putting mirrors in space to reflect sunlight away from the earth and covering Greenland in a massive "blanket" so that it doesn't melt... (click here to continue reading). 

December 3, 2010 — Clean energy simpler than mirrors in space — BCCGE Livewire Blog...

Although it sounds like something straight out of an Austin Powers movie, scientists at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun are seriously considering putting mirrors in space and sprinkling iron filings into the world’s oceans to reduce the impacts global warming... (click here to continue reading). 

 

To view BCCGE's news and updates from 2010 click here

 

To view BCCGE's 2010 media releases click here

To view BCCGE's 2009 media releases click here

To view BCCGE's 2008 media releases click here

 

Documents and reports of interest: click here

Articles of interest: click here