Let's have a look at some information provided by Natural Resources Canada.
International Hydroelectricity Comparison
2002
Canada leads the way in the world with 67,100 MW's followed by the United States and Brazil. Of that 67,000 MW's Newfoundland and Labrador is almost 10% of that but with only 2% of the population.
Looking at the graph we can see Newfoundland and Labrador is behind Quebec Ontario and BC - just ahead of Manitoba but then we generate more than all the other provinces combined. With the development of the Lower Churchill we would go over Ontario! Interesting !!!
Then Natural Resources Canada says this:
Traditionally, the cost of generating hydroelectric energy in Canada has been one of the lowest in the world. This allows for low retail electricity prices, to the benefit of residential users and electricity-intensive industries in Canada, such as the aluminum industry. Media reports indicate that the development of new sites would also be fairly low cost.
Now how do we fit into this picture? Where are those aluminum smelters? In Labrador? Where are all those residents? Newfoundland and Labrador? No because we are powering industries in Quebec and through them possibly Ontario - and those industries are vacuuming our population out.
Now if we do the same with the Lower Churchill - we could potentially add to the expansion and growth in Ontario - while producing more hydro than them - while we sit here with outmigration and disappearing communities.
Then Natural Resources Canada weighs in on comparing renewable energy potentials:
The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) made the following statements on behalf of the Canadian electrical utilities and hydro industry:
“ When most of us in the United States and Canada think of renewable energy, we think of emerging technologies like solar, wind, geothermal or biomass. In doing so, we take for granted the predominant form of renewable energy – hydropower…
...While all of these other renewables promise significant long-term opportunity, the pre-eminent renewable generating technology today and for the foreseeable future, is hydroelectricity. Whatever form that support for emerging renewables takes, the fact remains that hydro power is an established renewable technology that offers the environmental benefits associated with emerging renewable competitors at a cost-effective price, with dependable supply, and the added benefit of opportunities for continued expansion. “
Yet we continue to talk about exporting this resource. You are kidding right Danny? Right Gerry? Right Lorraine? That would be the biggest giveaway in our history and would effectively put the last nail in our coffin.
To put it in perspective - if Labrador had industry connected to the Upper Churchill instead of Quebec - our population could have grown by 100,000 - we could have 4 or 5 smelters or other large industrial users - and at the very least sustain the ones we have and had like a paper mill. People would be moving to Labrador to work - not Alberta or Ontario. You know how many industries would plow down the door for 1/4 cent power?
The entire publication by Natural Resources Canada can be found by clicking HERE
The reality is our provincial government has primary responsibilities including the health and education of the citizens and the growth of the population and the economy. If one feels they are unable to keep up with Prince Edward Island in these areas - with all the natural resource wealth we have - they should bow out. If one feels that our major hydro-electric potentials must be exported - essentially that individual or those individuals are managing our demise. There will not be growth when a jurisdiction predicts no growth in energy demand. Everything has to plug in. The industry supplying the jobs - the retail sectors responding to new customers and increased housing for a growing population all require energy.
That is why Nova Scotia - Quebec - Ontario - New Brunswick - and various New England States all want our power. That is why our people continue to move to these jurisdictions to work.
Any individual let alone any leader who really contemplates exporting this power is as ignorant as those involved in the Upper Churchill fiasco.
14 comments:
"How important is Labrador hydro? It is our Future!"
It is the province of Newfoundland and Labrador's opportunity to create industry in Labrador and in turn increase the population of the Big Land and that is where the importance lies.
What is good for Labrador is good for the province in general. Unless the energy is used for that purpose let the rivers remain in their natural state flowing the way they have since nature created them. After second thought that might be the most valuable state both economically and ecologically. Eco-tourism will be the biggest name in town in the not too distant future.
So, do you still want an "infeed" to the island, yes or no?
Only if you plan to export it out. That's the difference between you and I - other that the obvious agenda - I want to see the power used in Labrador.
If Labrador does not want it all - then what it does not want should come to the Island - not to Ontario Quebec Maine Vermont etc...
First and foremost sue ,the power should be used for the people of Labrador.Not one shred of it should go anywhere else ,unless labrador doesnt want it.Then it should go to the Island.
As far as the Quebec plans go for there project ,great.I hope that they do use all capacity for transmission over thier grid.That will make us use the Anglo-Saxon route.
Then when the end of the deal for the ChurchHill final does come we will have in place the line we need to get that power first to our province ,and then to American markets. Not thru Quebec but another route.Which will mean far better markets then Ontario or Quebec .
Let the bastard canadains make more reactors and bury thier waste.They can live in thier own filth like the animals they are .
As for poor Labrador something has to go right for thease poor people.To live thru what canada has done to them ,they should have thier head tax re-payed by canada.
Shame on you canada for allowing that crime to continue.
Wow. I can't believe some comments especially from Calvin. I do absolutely believe Labradorians should be the final 'deciders' on any further power development in Labrador. I also believe that there should be a pan-Labrador power grid for economic development and residential use as part of any deal(should we decide there is to be one). In the Premiers own words he says (for what it is worth), that it wouldn't proceed unless 'Labradorians are the prime beneficiaries'. He later stated that the development would depend on 'what the ask is from Labrador'. I don't know of any Labradorians still believe any of that, however, or whether any of that is supposedly still on the table. As far as Quebec developing their own rivers - well, that is entirely their department. They, too, are Canadians and Labradorians know that it was not Quebec that sold us out on the Upper Churchill - it was the Joey's Newfoundland government as it has been the Provincial government, in all cases, for the bad decisions for Labrador (unfortunately we don't get to make our own). So for Calvin, sorry my son, I can safely say that Labradorians do not share your vitriol for Canada. If not for Canada, we would have nothing. Our mistreatment has come at the hands of others. Maybe instead of just putting a blanket of blame on someone else, maybe we all should just examine exactly where blame lies, learn from it, and move on.
Yes LP I do not have an issue with Quebec re the Upper Churchill contract - with ne big exception - their insistance - even today that wheeling power through them is not an option.
With respect to developing their own rivers - no problem there - except where the head waters are in Labrador. I guess by your theory LP there would be little to develop in Labrador as the rivers run down to them.
There Terms of Reference for an MOU in place under the Tobin Bouchard proposal. In that one the Romaine was being developed jointly with shared benefits - including a 50/50 split in emission credits.
Sue, of course where the rivers involve both provinces there has to be some sort of agreement re impacts/benefits. I have to confess to NO expertise regarding water flow and the legalities thereof but no doubt where we share rivers, this province could not arbitrarily shut off or divert the water from those rivers without some kind of agreement. After it passes our border and no longer would affect our portion, I doubt there is anything that could be done (by us). Wouldn't some agreement on those rivers be a great place to start toward some sort of agreement to 'wheel' power through Quebec? And I agree, the refusal to allow the wheeling of power is unreasonable. Full cooperation often starts with other, often lesser things. The current climate between Nfld/Ottawa is clearly not conducive to such cooperation, nor will that (current) attitude work with Quebec or anyone else. I don't think Labradorians feel the same kind of distrust (even bordering on paranoia) that seems evident elsewhere in the Province regarding Quebec - they are after all, our neighbors. Why not take the attitude that, given time, the right attitude, and mutual benefit, that positive things can happen?
LP - headwaters in Labrador - Quebec spends a few billion downstream...Guess whose going to claim owenership of the headwaters. If we damn on top - then what...That is why an experts report completed for the Our Place in Canada stated that we had to have agreements in place for certain rivers - including the Romaine. The question is - where is that agreement?
So ,Ip ,from your conclusion .Once the crime has been committed ,its ok that those that benefit from it ,are allowed to continue from what many believe is simple financial exploitation.The british empire was famous for it.
C'mon,a simple read from any history book shows how canada took libertys with Newfoundland .Alot of people want to blame Smallwood for what happened with the ChurchHill.And ,yes,he does hold a great deal of blame for it,but to put qall the blame on his shoulders would make me ignorant.
Quebec ,along side canada,knew what that power was worth.Dont kid yourself.And ,Ip,I have a simple question for you.If canada is such the defender of the just and defender of the week as many believe,why do they allow this to comtinue.
Because you and i both know what really happened,to to blame the Smallwood governement is like throwing a pie in the face of every person that voted for confederation.Libertys were taken plain and simple,so that shows how ready we were fro confederation nd the true intentions of canada.
Yes,Samllwood was an Idiot,but he had a great deal of help from Ottawa.
So why is Ryan Cleary so pissed at you?
So why is Ryan Cleary so pissed at you?
Thats his tough luck if your referring to me anon.
Yes, Sue, that's the question and since clearly this province needs the agreement the most, we know who we need to ask and Tobin and Grimes are gone. Wasn't 'Our Place in Canada' completed right around the last election?
Calvin, I think there's an awful lot for you to learn about the history of the relationship (or lack thereof) between the two parts of this province. (No, it's not all to be found in the elementary or high school history books, either. As for the ones who voted for Confederation - well, boy, all I can say is that the Province voted around 51% to join Canada. Within the Province - Labrador voted something around 80%. Does that tell you anything?
As far as the highway (from another post)... well, the figures will show you that approximately 90% of the TLH was from Federal dollars. Also from that other post - all the resources you mention...the minerals, the wood, the hydro (oh, if Canada and Quebec knew the value of the Hyrdo, How come Nfld didn't?) etc... well that is all exclusively Provincial jurisdiction. Yes, Ottawa is ultimately in control of fish stocks but I can guarantee you the Province has to share some blame... they have to licence fish plants and yes, they subsidized plenty of fishermen to come to Labrador in the not very distant past...check it out. Ever hear of Fishermans tickets?
Yes in fact Labrador was gutted of her fishery similar to the foreign gutting of our banks. As for the fish plant fiasco - yep that was for politcal points just like the arena's the ditches the bridges etc.
However when it comes to the stocks - no such thing regardless of the number of plants - quotas are set by Ottawa - they ignored science - shut us up with more fish - so foreign affairs and international trade could be enhanced through the gutting of our cod.
Pay up Ottawa - and if anything is to be set right - it is time we all worked together. As you said a prosperous Labrador is good for us all.
Amen to that Sue.When can I come Home .LOL!!!
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