BC Energy Minister Bill Bennett How do you know when a politician’s lying? When you see his/her lips move. Bill Bennett, the BC Hydro point man in the government, tells us that there will be a 28% increase in Hydro charges over the next few years, which NDP critic John Horgan
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The Common Sense Canadian: Enbridge plans major private power project on fish-bearing river
The Clore River (Neil Ever Osborne/ILCP) Read this Nov. 22 story from Larry Pynn in The Vancouver Sun on Enbridge’s plan to resurrect a private run-of-river project on the Clore River in northwest BC. The 120-megawatt project was abandoned by another company after it learned of the river’s significant fish values. A
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Site C Dam hearings designed to discourage public participation, critics say
Opponents of Site C Dam paddle the Peace River (Damien Gillis) Read this Nov. 21 story from The Vancouver Sun on criticism of the public hearings for the proposed Site C Dam, scheduled over the holiday season in northeast BC. The Wilderness Committee says the lack of any hearings outside of the Peace region and short
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: New dam planned for St. Lawrence River
BECANCOUR, Que. – The Quebec government is helping to bankroll a $130-million project by RER Hydro, Hydro-Quebec and Boeing to generate clean energy on the St. Lawrence River, in what officials say would be the world’s largest river-generated turbine farm. The three-phase project could eventually culminate in nine megawatts of
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Need for Site C Dam exaggerated as public hearings start next month
Public hearings into the controversial, $8 Billion Site C Dam are set to commence next month, as the Joint Review Panel for the project indicated today that proponent BC Hydro has filled in some key gaps identified in its proposal. The process will kick off on December 9 in Fort
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Site C Dam hearings delayed as panel seeks answers from BC Hydro
Proposed Site C Dam – artist’s rendering FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – It could be some time before a joint review panel considering the proposed Site C Dam in northeastern B.C., makes a decision about sending the project to a public hearing. The panel is now seeking even more information
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Massive power bill increases due to Liberals’ failed IPP scheme
BC Energy Minister Bill Bennett (photo: CP) I told you so! My colleague Damien Gillis told you so! Independent economist Erik Andersen told you so! The Campbell/Clark government has taken the jewel of our diadem, BC Hydro, and forced it into what would be, for any company in the private
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Métis fight Manitoba hydro line
WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s Métis federation is appealing an environmental licence granted for the construction of a controversial $3-billion hydro line. President David Chartrand said the federation has formally registered an appeal with Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh. A plan to build a 1,300-kilometre transmission line up the west side of Lake
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: ‘Massive’ rate increase coming for BC Hydro customers, leaked documents show
Read this Sept. 11 story from The Vancouver Sun, confirming what The Common Sense Canadian has been predicting for years: massive rate hikes for BC Hydro customers due to the failed BC Liberal energy policy. Homeowners, small businesses and industrial users are facing a staggering 26.4-per-cent electricity rate increase from 2014 to 2016, according
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Why does BC Hydro get their demand forecasts so wrong?
BC Hydro’s $8 Billion proposed Site C Dam – artist’s rendering Energy Minister Bill Bennett has invited citizens to review and presumably submit thoughts about the recently released BC Hydro draft “Integrated Resource Plan” (IRP), which includes some “bullish” projections of demand. Hydro chronically wrong This BC Hydro forecast for
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Wheels coming off Liberal energy policy as contracts cancelled
BC Energy Minister Bill Bennett Folks, the wheels are coming off the BC Government’s 2002 Energy policy, which forbade BC Hydro from creating new power (Site C Dam being exempted). Energy Minister Bill Bennett has cancelled 10 Independent Power Projects (IPPs), with plans to defer delivery on up to another
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Group calls for comment extension to 5,000-page energy plan
LNG plants like this one proposed for Prince Rupert could throw a monkey wrench into BC Hydro’s plans BC Hydro is providing the public just six weeks to respond to its 5,000-page draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) – and that doesn’t sit well with a Vancouver-based water advocacy group. The BC
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