BC’s government seems determined to continue the present model for private power in the intended 2024 call for additional electricity. The difference in 2024 will be that large contracts for wind power will be issued. Government knows that citizens would not, and should not, tolerate privatization of the public utility.
Continue readingAuthor: Norman Farrell
Blogging regularly since April 2009 on public affairs with focus on BC politics, journalism, the environment and ethical matters in the public arena.
IN-SIGHTS: Efficiency of BC Hydro dams slowly dropping – Site C may produce 1/4 less than promised
Site C was conceived when output per MW of capacity was higher than it has been in recent years. BC Hydro has regularly claimed that 1,100 MW capacity at Site C will annually produce 5,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity. That would be 4.64 GWh per MW of capacity, almost
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Lack of transparency at BC Hydro may conceal massive fraud
Economist Dr. Jetson Leder-Luis of Boston University studies fraud in public spending. He estimates that fraud in large projects may divert five percent of spending. On the Site C power project, that suggests fraud worth hundred of millions of dollars might be involved.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: BC revenues from fossil gas
An examination of revenue the Province of British Columbia has taken in from production of fossil methane gas in the fiscal years 2000 to 2023.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Dangerous distraction
A key element of Canada’s future climate policy is carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The federal government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to advance the commercial viability of CCUS technologies. Despite what critics say about CCUS, it is working as intended for fossil fuel producers. CCUS is
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Watch what they do, not what they say
BC’s NDP government promised, “On May 19, 2022, the Province introduced a new oil and gas royalty system that puts the interests of British Columbians first and eliminates outdated and inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies.” More than fifteen months later, we learn from the province’s just released audited financial statements that subsidies
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Accelerating climate change
Eliminating methane emissions offers huge potential for quick, affordable climate action. Modern technology makes identification of leakage relatively simple, but industry and governments are dedicated to increased fossil fuel production. As a result, methane leakage is consciously underreported and methane abatement actions are not taken.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Naval deployment
As a change from the usual subjects at In-Sights, here are photographs taken by Lorne Simpson of Victoria, a friend of 50 years or so. Lorne is a keen observer and a multitalented artist. To record scenes, he might use a paint brush or his phone, but he might also
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: A journalist who understands journalism
After 28 years as a key contributor at the Georgia Straight, Charlie Smith moved to Pancouver, a new arts and culture media outlet that aims to “shed light on how this history has shaped artistic creation in Vancouver.” Charlie Smith occasionally writes at Substack and recently he asked if it
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Methane control — low hanging fruit
Strategic interventions to cut methane emissions in the natural gas supply chain are relatively simple and cost-effective compared to the complexity and expense of decarbonizing the global economy. Prohibiting venting and routine flaring and incorporating routine equipment fixes and upgrades into maintenance plans can significantly cut methane emissions from production
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: ☠ Fossil methane gas ☠
Proponents tell us that fossil methane gas emits fewer greenhouse gases when burned than coal. “Natural Gas” has long been sold to us as a reliable, environmentally friendly, even classy energy source. But end-use combustion is only part of the story. Total GHG life-cycle emissions from extraction, processing and transport of
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Fuelling the fires
Premier David Eby and Ministers of British Columbia spent much time in August 18 news conferences. They talked about dealing with wildfires and assisting the tens of thousands of people affected by the province’s hottest ever time for burning. Politicians spent little time talking about factors that contributed to the
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement may be unreachable
The UK’s Royal Meteorological Society wrote about the deadly heatwave that affected western North America in 2021. An underlying message was to prepare for more disasters like the destruction of Lytton, BC. This might happen even if governments get truly serious about climate change, an unlikely scenario even as death
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Help IN-SIGHTS continue
When supporting news and information web pages, please consider IN-SIGHTS.CA. After 14 years, survival of this advertising-free site is at risk. Reader contributions are needed to offset internet, computer, and research charges, site hosting costs, and subscriptions to numerous news sites in North America and Europe.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Even a single lamp dispels the deepest darkness
Substance use disorder (SUD) affects human’ brains and behaviors, leading to uncontrolled use of substances. Symptoms can be moderate to severe. For individuals, this might involve drugs or alcohol. For industrialized societies, it certainly involves fossil fuels.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: More patients for healthcare facilities that prominently display Jim Pattison’s name
In the 2021 election campaign, federal Liberals promised to stop thermal coal exports by 2030. Weeks later, Trudeau repeated the pledge at COP26. As usual, hollow promises are worthless and thermal coal continues to be exported from ports in British Columbia and capacity to handle this dirty fossil fuel has
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: New radical “conservatives”
ethics and morality have little to do with today’s self-serving radicals who falsely label themselves conservative. In too many cases, politicians promising responsible management of taxpayers’ assets have shunned prudent exercise of power. They tolerate extensive damage to the planet so that financial rewards can flow to corporate cronies and
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Collapse of modern society
University of Manchester’s Dr. Kevin Anderson is a visiting researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences at Sweden’s Uppsala University. Anderson warns that continuing on our current path will result in a catastrophic outcome due to climate change. He cautions against believing the political rhetoric about progress and says the
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Community-powered energy
Over the years, clean renewable power costs have decreased steadily and efficiencies have improved. The British Columbia government and the main public utility offer few incentives for creation of energy near to points of consumption. Green electricity must displace fossil fuels but the NDP allows BC Hydro to maintain its
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Carbon-free, non-destructive energy
A pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) facility moves water into a high-level reservoir during times of low demand, and then generates electricity by releasing water during times of high demand. Most storage occurs at night and most electricity is generated during the day. PSH is a proven method of energy storage with competitive
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