Category Archives: Energy

Energy

BC’s Solar Capacity Is Doubling

1 Comment

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

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.

Continue reading BC’s Solar Capacity Is Doubling →
Energy

Does Ernst & Young’s LNG Report Vindicate BC?

7 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

There are credible experts who believe that, with proper regulation and enforcement, it is possible to have a trustworthy fracking industry. They also say this does not yet exist in North America. Personally, I think the industry is out of control and BC’s government is desperate to get in bed with it. Last week the government released a report from Ernst & Young (EY) which the Minister of Natural Gas Development says “British Columbians can have confidence they are benefiting from a clean, well regulated natural gas industry.” Does Ernst & Young’s LNG report vindicate BC?

Continue reading Does Ernst & Young’s LNG Report Vindicate BC? →
Energy

Renewables Supplied 32.9% of the EU’s Electricity

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1Aside 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 →

Energy, Environment

Two Days Left To Ask For An Environmental Review

1 Comment

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

Building a major LNG terminal in Delta would have a major impact on the mouth of the Fraser River.  The diaphragm at the top of this page shows how LNG tankers would come into, and leave, the proposed WesPack Tilbury Marine Jetty. Even with the help of tugboats, they need most of the Fraser River’s width to turn around.  The National Energy Board has already granted an export license for a facility that could bring up to 120 LNG tankers and 90 LNG barges to this terminal every year. In the US, LNG proponents need to assess potential hazards all along LNG tanker routes, but the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is considering waiving an environmental assessment. The public comment period on this project is almost over,  you have two days left to ask for an environmental review.

Continue reading Two Days Left To Ask For An Environmental Review →
Energy

Vancouver Ranks Last For Solar Policy Among Canadian Cities

1 Comment
Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

One can’t help but notice the timing of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation’s (SPEC) list ranking Canadian Cities on their Solar Energy Policy. Vancouver, which hopes to become the World’s greenest city, is hosting the Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum at the Four Seasons Hotel, May 13-15. Though Vancouver has done well in many areas, SPEC has long maintained that the city’s solar energy policy is not one of them. According to its’ survey of 17 municipalities: Vancouver ranks last for solar policy among Canadian Cities; Edmonton, Toronto & Calgary are policy leaders.

Continue reading Vancouver Ranks Last For Solar Policy Among Canadian Cities →