but then makes it six of one 1/2 dozen of the other. It's one thing to want a tunnel to open Newfoundland and Labrador properly to the North American markets but it's quite another to give up ownership of the Lower Churchill to get it.
Tom Keirans has wanted the tunnel for many decades but he also wants private interests to own and develop our Lower Churchill. In his scenario - we would have the access we need but Quebec interests would end up owning the rest of our power.
This is why we must be very careful.
Tom does believe that the energy should be used in Labrador to generate industrial growth and in that we absolutely agree - but we do not have to turn over ownership of the Lower Churchill to accomplish this.
Canada's security of supply is a responsibility of the federal government and they should start taking that seriously - if not Ontario and eventually oil and gas reliant provinces will have difficulty surviving at current economic levels. Canada should build an east west grid at federal governments expense and provinces can work out arrangements to import/export power. The Premier's idea that this province should be burdened by what he calls the Country's reliance on Quebec for power - is not our problem and in fact is not even true. Best I can tell Danny is talking about Ontario's reliance on Quebec for power - that Premier is McGuinty's problem not yours. Your responsibility is Newfoundland and Labrador - in the same way Charest is protecting Quebec's interest by beating us to the punch, markets, technology, and everything else we can think of.
So Canada can build the grid and we will use it for export when we have power we would like to move - like wind power tidal and wave energy - even your favorite gas! But do not move hydropower outside our borders.
PEOPLE JUST READ THIS: IF YOU GENERATE POWER AND THEN PAY FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES IN A TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND PAY TO MAINTAIN THAT GRID - IT ADDS COSTS TO THE POWER YOU ARE SELLING.
IF YOU GENERATE THAT SAME POWER AND USE IT HERE FOR INDUSTRY ALL THE SAVINGS GENERATED BY NOT TRANSMITTING THOUSANDS OF MILES COULD BE OFFERED TO INDUSTRY TO ESTABLISH IN LABRADOR.
THEN TAKE THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT OF VOLATILE OIL AND GAS PRICES COUPLED WITH THE PENALTIES WHICH WILL COME FOR FOSSIL FUEL EMMISSION - INDUSTRY IS LOOKING FOR RELIABLE, COMPETETIVELY PRICED, GREEN,RENEWABLE ENERGY. WE HAVE THAT SO WHY EXPORT IT AND INDUSTRY TO ONTARIO?
INDUSTRY NEEDS NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROCESS SUCH AS MINERALS, FISH, WATER, OIL, AND GAS - WE HAVE THAT. THEY NEED SUBSTANTIAL ENERGY - WE HAVE THAT. THEN THEY WANT CHEAP LABOUR - WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE MUST COMPETE USING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY. IF WE SHIP OFF EITHER OF THESE TWO WE HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER.
BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE TREMENDOUS WIND POTENTIAL, WAVE POTENTIAL, TIDAL POTENTIAL, AND BIOMASS - WE CAN USE THESE LESS VALUABLE RESOURCES TO EXPORT FOR GOOD PROFIT.
WE CANNOT DO ANY OF THESE THINGS UNTIL AN ENERGY PLAN IS UNFOLDED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT BEING TOLD WHAT THE PREMIER AND HIS GOVERNMENT PREDICTS OUR OWN DOMESTIC POWER NEEDS WILL BE OVER 10-50 YEARS. IF IT DOES NOT PREDICT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ENERGY SUPPLY FOR THAT PERIOD - THAT MEANS HE DOES NOT BELIEVE OUR ECONOMY WILL GROW. IF IT PREDICTS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR POWER THEN WE MUST MAINTAIN THE LOWER CHURCHILL POTENTIAL FOR OURSELVES. THE ENERGY PLAN HAS NOT YET BEEN FINISHED LET ALONE RELEASED AND THEN DISCUSSED WITH THE PEOPLE OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR.
THE PREMIER JUST CAME BACK FROM ICELAND - THEN HE HAS LEARNED THAT THEY USE THEIR ENERGY TO ATTRACT INDUSTRY.
IF THE PREMIER EXPORTS LOWER CHURCHILL POWER HE WILL HAVE SOLD OUR FUTURE.
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