Hydropower is not progressive if Exported
Where's the Energy Plan
Where's the Energy Plan
Williams announces "progress" with Lower Churchill development last week - announcing that environmental registrations have been filed with federal and provincial authorities. Meanwhile not a word on the MIA (missing in action) Energy Plan which is already late and delayed a couple of times.
Why the media is not pressing the Premier on this is - to say the least - perplexing. The Energy Plan should outline for the people on the Island and Labrador what the domestic and industrial energy needs are projected to be for the next 25 years or so. This Plan is essential in order to determine what the Lower Churchill power will be used for in our own province and at the very least provide information on necessary recall provision if the province signs significant export deals. But nothing is provided.
I have been questioned by various hosts of programs regarding my concern on export of the power - considering a deal for the energy has not yet been reached. That is correct but I and certainly media should have enough information to say that Williams plans to export the vast majority of it. This should suffice to ask the man what the Energy Plan is projecting. If we cannot use 2500 MW's of power in our province by the time the project is complete - 10 years out - then he is saying the province is dead industrially. If that's the case there are not enough royalties available from oil - gas - and hydropower to support a population that is aging, outmigrating, and essentially retiring.
In every jurisdiction in the world hydropower is used - as it remains the most viable, attractive, and green power potential - to attract significant industry. It is that which keeps employment growing and keeps our skilled tradespeople and our young graduates in Newfoundland and Labrador to grow a family and a career.
The Energy Plan should be able to tell us what our intentions are in growing industry - especially in Labrador - and what that growth will mean as it relates to energy needs. This in turn directs us to do RFP's and trade junkets on energy. We have not done this.
Obviously this topic will continue in the coming days - weeks - and months until some answers are obtained - but in the meanwhile here's the quote from Danny from CP for Oilweek Magazine.
Given the insatiable energy demands of Ontario and the North American eastern seaboard, those problems no longer exist, Williams said.
“The market is ready now,‘‘ he said. “It‘s an ideal time to be positioned where we‘re positioned today.‘‘
4 comments:
What a great opportunity(if lower churchill comes about)to shut down our fossil fuel burning power stations and GO 100% HYDRO(in Newfoundland). Boy wouldn't that be nice.I guess we all have a dream.
If Premier Danny Williams ignores the wishes of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and has the wonderful cache of energy known as the Lower Churchill Hydro development exported to Ontario, he will be doing this province, especially Labrador a disservice.
And again we, as the electorate of Newfoundland and Labrador, will ask the repeated question "who can we trust to be elected to government to be our Premier, who will look after the needs of this province? Labrador is a large land and it is void of industry, and so is Newfoundland for that matter, but this is a Labrador resource and it has the adjaceny. It is time that industry was created there, and if the Premier advertises to the World that this energy is going to be developed in Labrador and will be used for creating industry for Labrador, then once the world economy starts turning around again in an upward direction, there will be all kinds of corporations lining up to get a piece of the pie in Labrador. Premier Danny: please do what is right and have this energy source developed to bring industry to Labrador. If you do, it will be a feather in your hat for prosperity and you will go down in the annals of Newfoundland and Labrador history as having done the right thing.
just wondering if it is true, that Labrador pay an outrageous electricity cost.the gov,t now wants $10 million to pay for the ABITIBI(s,ville) power cost, that is not going to be used.
I think that the people of Labrador have a legitimate reason to be upset,if they so desire.
All of the money the gov,t gets for thepower of the churchill, and perhaps in the future,even more. I say if the gov,t subsidizes anyone, make it Labrador. after all it is their resource.
The government has given taxpayer dollars from general revenues to hydro to offset the 10 million Abitibi will not be required to pay - for recovery of oil costs over the past decade. I question this - Abitibi did use the power during the period of recovery - perhaps government should recover it from Abitibi...
Post a Comment