Speaker Criticizes Feds for Lack of Action on Bioenergy

Wednesday, June 09, 2010 07:11 PM

Prince George, B.C.- Doug Bradley, Executive Director of the Canadian Bioenergy Association, began his presentation at the Bioenergy Conference in Prince George with a heading on the overhead screen that read: “Federal Climate Change Policies.” However, underneath the heading the rest of the screen was blank. And that was his point. In his opinion, government policy regarding climate change and renewable energy is not where it should be. Furthermore, he said “we can’t wait for the U.S.”

He argues that the difference between Europe, which has had considerable success with renewable energy, and North America is that, in Europe, the European Union sets targets that are enforceable. In Canada, the federal government has no jurisdiction over forestry and other resource areas, and, as a result, when dealing with biomass, policy is fragmented.

Another problem in Canada is that there are lots of incentives given for renewable power development, but not for renewable heat production, which ends up discriminating against biomass energy initiatives.

In his presentation, he talked about the experience in Vermont, U.S.A., where targets were set in the 1980s to convert the schools in the state over to renewable energy. State bonds were issued to cover 90% of the cost, with the remaining 10% covered by municipalities. The result was a huge number of conversions with a minimal effect on local taxes. In addition, each new school saved enough from the energy conversion to pay the salary for two additional teachers.

Bradley recommended several initiatives for British Columbia. One of these is for the provincial government to set up a “bio-trade equity fund” that would invest in bioenergy conversion plants and supply chains. He also said that the Port of Prince Rupert facilities need to be enhanced so that they can handle the “floodgate” of wood pellets that are expected to be exported in future years. He finished his speech by mentioning that China currently has $20 billion it would like to invest in energy resources in Canada, including bioenergy.

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Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 07:11 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: hood rich on June 9 2010 9:10 PM

one would think this would lead to a response from Dick Harris or Jay Hill but they have to stick to the talking points. while the rest of the world pushes ahead our government MP's are scurrying to the PMO to get approval about what they can and cant say. what ever happened to healthy public debates?

Posted by: Palopu on June 9 2010 9:41 PM

Considering that Europe doesnt have huge Hydro Electric Dams to generate electricity, nor do they have huge reserves of Natural Gas, or Forests, why is this dude making comparisons between Canada and Europe????

Why does he make reference to getting Prince Rupert ready for a huge influx of pellets. Doesnt he know that a large ;portion of these pellets go through the Port of Vancouver and will continue to do so.

Making reference to Prince Rupert, and spouting off about Bio Energy is the latest **in** thing to do in this part of the Country.

As long as we have cheap wood to process into wood pellets we should have a market, however once the supply of wood start to tighten up, things will begin to change.

Posted by: supertech on June 9 2010 9:45 PM

Harper has said it many times before: "not at the expense of the economy'. Why can't anyone understand this? If there was proof that other means of energy were affordable, they might do something but the facts are that what everyone calls 'clean' energy' turns out to cost you and me in subsidies from the government.

Why don't you check out Pacific Bio Energy and ask who is buying their pellets?