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
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: A world defined by impacts long called catastrophic
New York Times science writer David Wallace-Wells, author of The Uninhabitable Earth, issues a weekly newsletter for subscribers. The August 2 edition is a powerful and disturbing look at the future.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Western Canada refusing to limit a main cause of climate change
Powerful people are willing to destroy us to enrich themselves. Governments are willing accomplices. Canada Energy Regulator says western Canadian fossil gas production hit an all-time high in November 2022, a year that included at least eight of the top ten producing months since January 2000. There are no plans to limit production.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: A solar powered future?
Despite false claims by organizations paid to promote false claims, clean renewable energy must replace fossil fuels. The only question is when. The inevitable is assured by crucial environmental, social and economic benefits…
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Climate change denial, indifference, concern
— Climate change denial is based on prioritizing consumerism and wealth accumulation over human health and survival. — Climate change indifference is based on false hope, inattention, or ignorance. — Climate change concern is based on altruism and science.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Every alarm bell is ringing, but political reporters aren’t listening
I looked at the writings of Vaughn Palmer, a person considered by many to be the Dean of the BC Press Gallery. The province’s production of fossil fuels is accelerating, and wildfires — with months to go in fire season — have consumed 450 percent of the average of the
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Will BC Hydro make another multi-billion dollar mistake?
BC Hydro is preparing a call for power and expects to award new contracts to independent power producers in 2025. The 500 MW Revelstoke 6 is deferred again, even though it could produce electricity for about $1.2 million per MW of capacity, which would be less than one-tenth the cost
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Methane, gas or liquid, is not clean energy
Governments responsible for regulation of fossil fuels are also promoters of its production and consumption. British Columbia has committed billions of dollars to encourage liquified fossil gas and has extended subsidies by way of royalty credits worth over $15 billion in today’s dollars. Government’s commitment to growing the fossil fuel
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Some are getting rich on pensions
Times might be tough for many in British Columbia, but executives managing public pension funds are doing okay. Even better than okay. The British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCi) looks after public pension funds. It is the most rewarding place to work in BC’s public sector. Most rewarded is CEO
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: COP37
A Conference of the Parties (COP) is held regularly to assess the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress made in dealing with climate change. Dubai, most populated city of the world’s seventh largest oil producer, will host COP27 in December 2023. Leaders of the top five
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Unextractables
Most Canadian politicians are blithe to climate science. The federal government is building or assisting construction of fossil fuel pipelines worth $45 billion. In the last few days, BC Premier David Eby joined Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at a Vancouver conference promoting production and consumption of fossil gas.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Uncooperative fossil fuel companies and enablers should be treated as criminals
Individuals in government, industry, and media stand in the way of actions to protect humanity from climate change. It is time to treat them as criminals, and to treat defenders of life as heroes.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Jiggery-pokery in business
On Twitter, Eudaimonia drew attention to a legal action involving the Province of British Columbia, BC Hydro and Conifex Timber Inc, a company that wants huge amounts of electricity for cryptocurrency mining. Eudaimonia sees this court case as a serious warning. If the 300 MW that Conifex wants is half
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Record setting wildfire burns
As of July 17, BC Wildfire Service is calling 2023 the worst year ever for land damaged by fire. More land has burned in BC since July 1 than in 12 of the preceding 15 years. Almost 400 wildfires are burning today, 22 of them out-of-control.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: British Columbians sold a bill of goods
Wind and solar are zero-carbon energy sources. When used to produce electricity, these renewables are less harmful to Earth’s climate than hydropower. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a length Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks. It shatters the idea that hydropower is clean energy, free of greenhouse gas
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Accurate methane emissions not wanted in BC
The Narwhal reported on peer-reviewed research that showed Oil and gas facilities in B.C. are producing 1.6 to 2.2 times more methane pollution than current federal estimates. But a wave of new satellite monitoring capability may change things. Soon, fossil gas promoters in industry and governments will have nowhere to
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Twelve commandments for seniors
Not sure where this originated from but reader Erik Andersen sent it along.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: The new abnormal
As climate disasters become more common, motivations to address underlying causes will decline as the general public accepts them as normal. Add the normal inclination to diminish gradually deteriorating situations and we are unlikely to save humanity from extinction.
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Protecting the protected, abusing the abused
Amanda Follett Hosgood, northern BC reporter for The Tyee, has done a thorough job of detailing the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal examination of RCMP conduct after a staff member of a Burn’s Lake residential school was accused of sexually abusing an 11 year-old Indigenous child. Information from the hearings is troubling. .
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: U.N. “climate change is out of control”
Regardless of science, the corporate world and governments in Canada remain determined to increase fossil fuel production and consumption. Under the NDP, British Columbia continues to provide direct and indirect subsidies to ensure increased output of products that threaten the survival of future generations. . .
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