Thursday, July 30, 2009

IPPs suffer momentary lapse of muscular coordination



Map of proposed and existing run-of-river licences via IPP Watch

The Province : Private power sources 'not in the public interest'

"A bombshell ruling by the B.C. Utilities Commission ... refused to endorse Hydro's long-term call for 3,000 gigawatts of power from public and independent power producers (IPPs) because it was not "in the public interest."
In other words, the commission shot down government claims that the province needs more power, NDP energy critic John Horgan told The Province."
Power to export to the US, he did not need to add, which anyway is looking much less likely to be able to afford it.

G&M : Green Premier's agenda hits snag as energy plan rejected

"Some analysts say the ruling – which shocked the government and the stock market – indicates B.C. has been over-estimating the amount of power the province needs in order to justify the development of independent power projects."
from which BC Hydro is contracted to buy power we don't need at far more than market price and at a time of year when the BC dams are full to overflowing anyway.

So, utility watchdog does good? Maybe.
However ... because there always has to be a however...

"Energy Minister Blair Lekstrom says the government is preparing a swift response to the ruling, and possibly a legal challenge.
Since the ruling, IPP investors have fled a budding industry that was valued at up to $14 billion after the May 12 election, analysts say.
Lekstrom admitted that IPPs are worried that Victoria's plans will change, but he insists they won't."
which was predicted in the Wall Street Journal, who further note the new strategic advantage of Plutonic Power :

Analysts Say Outcome Of B.C. Clean-Power Call Unclear

" Analysts say green-power producers hoping to build new projects in British Columbia could still see some projects go forward, despite a ruling from the B.C. Utilities Commission that many thought put the future of clean power in the province in doubt.

BC Hydro could move forward with a modified plan, awarding some contracts to clean-power producers but reducing the number of awards. He said this scenario would likely favor smaller projects, and could require some intervention from the B.C. government.
... if BC Hydro moves forward with a reduced set of awards for smaller projects, it could help developers such as Plutonic Power, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (INE.T) and Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. (KHD.T) because each submitted some bids for smaller projects. "


Really? Flashback :

List of Key Liberal Insiders Hired by Private Power Developers

  • Patrick Kinsella, Co-chair of 2001 and 2005 BC Liberal provincial campaigns - has consulted for Alcan, Accenture and now Plutonic Power. Alleged to have worked for both CN and BC Rail as BC Rail was being sold to CN.
  • Tom Syer, former deputy chief of staff to Gordon Campbell, now a director at Plutonic Power/GE.
  • David Cyr, former Assistant to BC Liberal Minister Mike de Jong, now a director at Plutonic Power/GE.
  • Robert Poore, recently worked under the Provincial Revenue Minister of the Province of BC, now a senior director at Plutonic Power/GE.
  • Bill Irwin, after holding key positions in the BC Ministries of Land and Water, and Crown Lands, now a director at Plutonic Power/GE.
  • Mark Grant, former executive director of the BC Liberal Party now with Rupert Peace Power.
  • Bruce Young, has held several high profile positions with the BC Liberal party and lobbied his own party on behalf of Katabatic Power is listed as a director of Atla Energy.

Plus 13 others in a list left in comments here on April 19 by Racheal11 and picked up 2 months later by The Province. benefitting from $30-billion in contracts to produce private power while BC Hydro is prohibited from generating any new energy sources.

This is a complicated story in many layers with a lot more yet to unfold.
I'll be watching RossK.

BC Citizens for Public Power : "First, the Energy Plan fabricates an energy crisis in BC; next private power is erroneously portrayed as synonymous with green energy and, by extension, most viable solution for BC’s energy shortage and the fight against climate change."

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least some public debate might come out of this. I'm tired of hearing Gordo being shilled as green in the media just for privatizing public utilities.
And hello - Gateway Project, pipelines from Alberta to the coast? Green?

RossK said...

Wait a second there Alison....

I'll be watching you.

RossK

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RossK said...

Actually, I'll be watching to see if the BCUC is suddenly rejigged for the good of the 'public process' or some such codswallop to get an idea of which way the wind is blowing....

(remember, that's what happened to the Translink Board when it refused to all of Mr. Campbell's bidding, all the time, like, yesterday).

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Elisha McCallum said...

Please remove allegations of me being a "Liberal insider" from your blog. I have never worked for the Liberals, am not a member of the Liberal party and have not been appointed to any positions by the Liberals. This statement is untrue and libelous and I request you remove it please.
Elisha McCallum

Dr.Dawg said...

Hey, Alison, I sent you an email!

On topic, why would it be considered defamatory to call someone a "Liberal insider?" Either you are or you aren't, and that's an end of it.

Elisha McCallum said...

Dr. Dawg - Wikipedia on this topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation

The communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government or nation a negative image.

It's expressly stated in a negative way on this blog that I am an insider of the Liberal party.
I am certain you'd feel the same way if your credentials or reputation were being called into question, would you not?

Alison said...

Fair enough, Elisha, you're not a Liberal insider. My apologies.

Elisha McCallum said...

Alison thank you very much. It is appreciated.

RossK said...

Rafe Mair has spoken.

He thinks BCUC did the right thing for the right reasons.

But, like me, he thinks the real proof of the puddingheads true intentions will be revealed by what actually happens to BCUC prior to the next submission of 'The Plan'.

RossK.

Anonymous said...

hydro had a booth set up at pride parade , pumping their 'green'. it wasn't hard to get the youth tending the tent to admit hydro and the liberals were full of shit. i mean, bless them, they did try, but with such a weak or no foundation (read corruption - buy low , sell high) it wasn't hard for them to kak.

a good site to keep up on things:
http://www.ourrivers.ca/home-mainmenu-37

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