By Roy L Hales
The great stands of Douglas Fir that many of our ancestors saw are largely gone. Isolated pockets persists. IN the following interview Ross Muirhead, of the Elphinstone Logging Focus, talks about the attempt to save 98 ‘Old Vets’ on Mount Elphinstone. ” is an ECO Radio interview broadcast on CKTZ (Cortes Island Community Radio) , CJMP (Powell River Community Radio) and CFSI (Green FM – Salt Spring Island Radio).
Continue reading 98 ‘Old Vets’ on Mount ElphinstoneOriginally Published on the Watershed Sentinel
Kimberly’s city council has a history of embracing innovation. They rebranded Kimberly “the Bavarian city of the Rockies” once it became apparent the Sullivan mine was going to run out. Further ventures into tourism led to the acquisition of the local ski hill and construction of what is now one of Canada’s 10 top golf courses. Both of these projects have since been sold. The city was ready for something new when Michel de Spot, CEO of Vancouver’s Ecosmart Foundation, approached them in 2008. He said the former Sullivan mine is the perfect site for a utility scale solar project.
Continue reading Going Solar at SunMineBy Roy L Hales
The NEB says Kinder Morgan Does not have to answer British Columbia’s questions about responding to an oil spill. The province’s motion concerning redactions to the Emergency Management Program (EMP) documents because “sufficient information has been filed from the existing EMP documents to meet the Board’s requirements at this stage of the process”.
Continue reading NEB Says Kinder Morgan Does Not have to AnswerGrace Islet’s Salvation is in sight. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource, announced the Province is partnering with local First Nations and the Nature Conservancy of Canada to preserve the First Nations burial site. Though negotiations with the owner have not concluded, many are are celebrating a victory.
Continue reading Grace Islet’s Salvation Is In SightEditor’s Note: The City of Vancouver has since informed me that some of the information in this article arises from a misunderstanding. Permitting costs do not include the equipment, just installation costs, which significantly reduces the totals used below. Rob Baxter, President of SPEC, says the this is a verbal commitment they made and not yet in writing. It is expected to cut $650 from the bill, which he says will still be at least three times higher than permitting in Toronto.
Vancouver intends to become the Greenest City in the world. It has drawn up an Action Plan identifying 10 specific goals for that it wants addressed by 2020. These include the city’s carbon emissions, Waste and Ecosystems, but they appear to have largely overlooked the potential for solar energy. Vancouver is one of the least attractive cities for solar.
Continue reading Vancouver’s New Permits Discourage Rooftop Solar
