In the late 1980s, BC Hydro and the Socred government of the day faced a challenge they had not previously faced; namely, trying to meet B.C.’s growing energy needs at a time of growing environmental concern and controversy around the construction of large hydro dams.
In response, BC Hydro and the Socred government embarked on two important policy initiatives that were designed to delay, for as long as possible, the construction of new hydro dams such as the Site C dam on the Peace River.
Energy conservation measures, designed to help reduce energy demand, were one of these key policy initiatives. The other was a policy to seek out new supplies of energy from independent power producers (IPPs) to help satisfy overall increases in energy demand.
For those who’ve been led to believe that IPPs were somehow created by Gordon Campbell and the B.C. Liberals, the fact that IPPs have been a significant part of B.C. energy policy since the late 1980s will probably come as a shock. Nevertheless, it is a fact: IPPs in B.C. predate the B.C. Liberal government by more than a decade.
Even more shocking for those who’ve been misled about IPPs in B.C. is the fact that the NDP government of the 1990s continued to encourage and support IPPs as a key part of energy policy.
Nothing has changed today or over the past decade. The people of this province still expect reasonably-priced power, no rate-shocks, low environmental impacts and many other benefits. And as in the past, energy conservation and energy from independent power producers remain among the pillars of B.C. energy policy, and both continue to play a major role in making sure the province meets its energy objectives.
David Field, Co-spokesperson
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy
www.greenenergybc.ca
