Category Archives: Technology

Communications, Community

Launch of the new Cortes Island Map Series

The Cortes Community Mapping Project recently launched its Cortes Island Map Series in Linnaea’s Lakeview Room. This morning’s program consists of gleanings from the three speakers: Sabina Leader Mense, David Shipway and Eve Flager. 

Sabina Leader Mense: “I want to give you a little bit of background on how we got this project started. In a nutshell, the project is best described as putting community maps into community hands. That’s been our goal. I’m just one of the team members working on this project.

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Energy

BC Hydro’s Peak Savings Program and Beyond

A growing number of countries are experimenting with ways to integrate electric vehicle batteries and rooftop solar systems into their energy grids to enhance stability. While BC Hydro is conducting trials with EV batteries in the Lower Mainland, the utility’s current emphasis is on rewarding customers who reduce their energy consumption during evening peak periods. In today’s interview, Brandon Young, Director of Energy Efficiency and Innovation at BC Hydro, discusses the Peak Saver program and possible next steps for integrating residential customers into grid-stability initiatives.

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Call for Wind & Solar in Canadian Cities as Average Global Temperatures Rise

There have been thousands of scientific studies warning about global warming, but one of the most chilling is a new report advocating the adoption of a combined rooftop solar and wind turbine energy in Canadian cities. Professors You Wu and Lexuan Zhong from the University of Alberta aren’t warning anyone about climate change. They base their projections on the assumption global temperatures could rise to 2.°C above pre-industrial levels in as little as fifteen years and to 3.5°C sometime between 2070 and 2090.

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Energy, Environment

Coastal First Nations warn billions at risk if Ottawa sinks tanker ban

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

If the oil tanker ban on the West Coast is lifted, nearly $2 billion in Indigenous-led economic gains could be scuttled, says a First Nations conservation finance organization. 

A single oil spill doesn’t just threaten First Nations communities, but could sink BC’s entire economy — impacting tourism, commercial and recreational fisheries, aquaculture and marine services — all of which depend on the healthy, pristine coast, said Coast Funds CEO Eddy Adra. 

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Energy

Here’s who lobbied for key measures in Mark Carney’s first budget

By Carly Penrose, Bethany Lindsay, Investigative Journalism Foundation, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Last week’s budget included billions in new spending and cuts that affected climate policies, defence spending, technology and taxation. 

An IJF analysis reveals that in the months and weeks leading up to the budget’s release, dozens of organizations registered to lobby and recorded hundreds of communications with public office holders on some of the very measures announced in Mark Carney’s budget.

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