Nancy Bepple isn’t a typical net-zero homeowner. She lives in an older home that wasn’t designed to be energy efficient, but Nancy happens to be one of those rare individuals who are very careful about their electricity usage. Consequently, 8 solar panels sufficed to meet her needs and BC has another net-zero energy home.
Continue reading BC Has Another Net-Zero Energy HomeBy Roy L Hales
BC Hydro recently slammed the most likely alternative to its proposed Site C Dam project in an interview with the Vancouver SUN. The Crown Corporation’s senior strategic technology specialist, Alex Tu, said some of the projects appear promising but stressed the cost estimates are still “very uncertain” and carry a lot of risk. What Tu did not tell the newspaper is that BC Hydro’s evaluation of Geothermal is outdated.
Continue reading BC Hydro’s Evaluation of Geothermal is Outdated
By Roy L Hales
There are slow pockets, but most of British Columbia’s solar contractors are busier than ever before. Riverside Energy Systems, in Kamloops, is finding it difficult to keep up. Rob Baxter, of Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-operative, thinks we may have reached a tipping point, “more people want to support solar energy.” Alevtina Akbulatova, Net Metering Specialist with BC Hydro, said 90 projects were connected to the grid during 2014. She added, “There are already 99 this year and I could approve a few more by the end of the day.” Add in the 1 megawatt of capacity from SunMine, the province’s first utility scale solar project, and BC’s Solar capacity Is doubling.
By Roy L Hales
Aside from the cold winter of 2012, Europe’s electric consumption has been declining the past five years. A combination of milder winters, advances in energy efficiency and some industry relocations have brought the numbers down. It is against this background that the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) point to the marked growth of wind and solar energy. According to their report Electricity in Europe 2014, renewables supplied 32.9% of the EU’s electricity.
Continue reading Renewables Supplied 32.9% of the EU’s Electricity
After a careful examination of BC Hydro’s analysis of the Site C Dam project, energy economist Robert McCullough concluded, “Nobody in their right mind would build anything today.” The 5,100 GW of electricity this facility would produce is not needed. It probably will not be needed before 2028. Ratepayers will save $200 million if construction of the Site C Dam is delayed for two years. In fact, “A longer delay will very likely generate higher net savings.” This was one of many factors that led McCullough, the economist who busted Enron, to conclude the Site C dam project needs to be delayed for two years.
Continue reading Site C Dam Project Needs To Be Delayed For Two Years
