Category Archives: Energy

Energy, Indigenous Nations

Small West Coast First Nation fuels economic growth with clean energy

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Klahoose Nation is charged up over a new clean energy project that both protects the environment and fuels economic development. 

A new micro-hydroelectric project at the Klahoose Wilderness Resort on B.C.’s isolated Central Coast will eliminate diesel fuel use at the off-grid, eco-tourist destination, removing 38 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, said Bruno Pereira. 

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Energy, Indigenous Nations

Klahoose Wilderness Resort decreases carbon footprint with the power of water

Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

​In the midst of a pandemic, climate emergency and uncertain economic future, Klahoose First Nation is looking at ways to shift from fossil dependence to alternative sources of green energy.

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Energy, Weather

Keeping the grid up on Cortes Island

Trying to keep the grid up has been very challenging these past three weeks. BC Hydro crews were constantly on call throughout the region, since Christmas Eve, repairing power outages caused by falling trees and snow encrusted power lines. Sub-zero temperatures meant skyrocketing heating bills. When local resident John Sprungman recently asked why his lights were flickering, a BC Hydro repair technician informed him that Cortes Island is trying to draw more power than the infrastructure on Cortes can handle. BC set a new record for peak electricity demand between 5 and 6 PM on December 27th, 2021: 10,902 megawatts.

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Energy

Supporting Canadian oil and gas Producers

Editor’s note: The opinions you are about to read are those of the author, the people she interviewed and not necessarily endorsed by Cortes Currents.

By Serena Lapointe, Whitecourt Press, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On November 22, during the Regular Meeting of Whitecourt Town Council, Councillor Paul Chauvet proposed submitting a resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) on Canadian oil and gas imports. Councillor Paul Chauvet suggested crafting a resolution urging FCM to advocate the Federal Government to implement a policy that requires all imported oil and gas utilized in the country to meet the same laws that Canadian producers must follow, including environmental and human rights standards. Councillor Chauvet said that countries that import gas and oil that could not meet those standards should be subject to additional tariffs. During the meeting, Council voted to look into the issue further.

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Energy

Trans Mountain wants to sidestep fire safety bylaws at Burnaby terminal

By John Woodside,  National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Burnaby is fighting back against Trans Mountain’s request to be excused from certain fire safety plans.

In early December, the Crown corporation that is building a pipeline from Edmonton to a Burnaby terminal filed a request to the Canada Energy Regulator asking for a “constitutional declaration” that would allow it to build without having secured proper fire safety permits from the city. Since then, the city has mounted a defence and last week filed sworn affidavits accusing Trans Mountain of dodging critically important fire safety requirements.

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