Premier Announces New Green Energy Advisory Task Force

By 250 News

The Province will establish a Green Energy Advisory Task Force, as committed in the August 2009 throne speech, and a new Cabinet Committee on Climate Action and Clean Energy, Premier Gordon
Campbell announced today at the Independent Power Producers of B.C. annual conference.

The Green Energy Advisory Task Force will be comprised of four advisory task force groups, to report directly to the new Cabinet
Committee, include:

* Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Procurement and Regulatory Reform This task force will recommend improvements to BC Hydro's procurement and regulatory regimes to enhance clarity, certainty and
competitiveness in promoting clean and cost- effective power generation; and identify possible improvements to future clean power calls and procurement processes.

* Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Carbon Pricing, Trading and Export Market Development This task force will develop recommendations to advance British Columbia's interests in any future national or
international cap and trade system, and to maximize the value of B.C.'s green-energy attributes in all power generated and distributed within and beyond B.C. borders. The task force will also develop
recommendations on carbon-pricing policies and how to integrate these policies with any cap and trade system developed for B.C.

* Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Community Engagement and First Nations Partnerships This task force will develop recommendations to ensure that First Nations and communities see clear benefits from the
development of clean and renewable electricity and have a clear opportunity for input in project development in their areas. It will work in partnership with First Nations, not only to respect their constitutional right,but to open up new opportunities for job creation and reflect the best practices in environmental protection.

* Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Resource Development This task force will identify impediments to and best practices for planning and permitting new clean, renewable-electricity generation to ensure that development happens in an environmentally sustainable way. The task force will also consider allocation of forest fibre to support energy development and invite input from solar, tidal, wave and other clean energy sectors to develop strategies to enhance their competitiveness.

The task force groups will consist of clean-energy experts, energy consultants, renowned climate experts, leading academics, First Nation representatives and environmentalists. The members of those committees
and terms of reference will be announced in the coming days. All task force groups will also undertake a comparative review of existing policies in other jurisdictions.

The new cabinet committee will include the Premier, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Blair Lekstrom and other cabinet ministers whose portfolios are important to the development of clean
energy, and existing members of the climate action committee.
Additionally, the committee will include the chairs of BC Hydro and the BC Transmission Corporation.

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