According Clean Energy Canada’s report Tracking the Energy Revolution, last year there were more Canadians working directly in clean energy jobs – such as efficiency, clean transportation, biofuels, wind and solar energy – than were directly employed in the oil sands. Roughly $6.5 Billion US was invested in this nation’s clean energy sector. Only four of the five principal investment firms are either German or Japanese. Renewables are big business in Canada and getting bigger.
Western Maryland sits on top one of the most controversial shale deposits in North America. There were 245 cases of water contamination in the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania and reports from West Virginia as well. Maryland’s Departments of Environment and Natural Resources have been studying fracking operations in these two states for over three years and just released a draft report (p 2 of attached) on how fracking “can be accomplished without unacceptable risks of adverse impacts to public health, safety, the environment, and natural resources.” These proposed rules are the strongest in the US and, using them as a criteria, I decided to grade the LNG development in my province. British Columbia gets a conditional “F” in Fracking.
Last week the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) released a report stating BC could develop geothermal for half the cost of hydro. That’s only the first of a series of benefits, that include little environmental impact, more jobs and energy that costs less to produce. CanGEA claims there is a sufficient geothermal potential to meet all of British Columbia’s future power needs. (p 7) Geothermal could supply the 1,100 MW of capacity and 5,100 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/yr) of energy that the proposed Site C dam offers, but an officer of BC Hydro says it is not likely they will switch to Geothermal.
Broadcast on Cortes Community Radio (CKTZ, 89.5 FM), & Powell River Community Radio (CJMP, 90.1 FM) “The NEB responds to my Questions” is an interview with Sarah Kiley of the National Energy Board.
