Minister misses mark

Revelstoke Times Review

Editor,

I am writing in response to the Letter from Liberal MLA Barry Penner regarding Independent Power Projects. I think Mr. Penner would have benefited if he had attended the forum held in Revelstoke last week. Criticisms of IPPs presented at the forum did not argue that IPPs cannot have the potential to create jobs or be a source of green energy. The main criticism was the effect that the BC Energy Plan has on public control of power. Numerous forum attendees expressed their confusion as to why BC Hydro is not involved in new run of river projects and instead will be forced to purchase power from independent producers, potentially at higher costs. Another issue presented at the forum was the question of how independent power producers will be held accountable for their projects. BC Hydro is accountable to all B.C. residents. Will these independent power producers, whose goal is profit, be as accountable to the public as BC Hydro could be?

Bill 30, which prevents municipalities from deciding what happens in their backyard, was also discussed at the forum. Bill 30 disables communities from choosing the most desirable use of local resources. The community is a key stakeholder in run-of-river projects and should be treated as such. Unfortunately, Mr. Penner?s letter failed to discuss Bill 30 or the role of local opinion in IPP decision making.  

Joe Ronan,

Revelstoke