The British Columbia government’s energy plan and the future of new renewable-power projects in the province have been shaken by a ruling from the B.C. Utilities Commission.
After hearings that lasted almost a year, the commission has rejected BC Hydro’s long-term acquisition plan as “not in the public interest” and has refused to endorse its push for clean energy.
The government’s clean — or green — energy plan has been a key initiative pursued by Premier Gordon Campbell and was a major issue in the May election. The ruling could call into question the viability of the B.C. government’s policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020. That promise, and a long term goal of an 80 per cent reduction by 2050, was put into law last year with passage of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act.
Some analysts say the ruling — which shocked the government and the stock market — indicates B.C. has been over-estimating the amount of power the province needs in order to justify the development of independent power projects.
“We have a very flawed energy plan in this province . . . the government cannot continue to exaggerate the need for power,” said Lori Winstanley, a spokeswoman for the professional employees’ union known as COPE, which has long been critical of BC Hydro’s energy plan.