Powering the province - BC’s energy future

On January 17 Conversations Live with Stuart McNish will explore the issue of BC’s energy future with a panel of individuals emersed in the facts and politics of this critical issue, and well-positioned to help us look towards our energy future. 

The panelists:

• Ian Anderson – Former Trans Mountain Corporation President & CEO
• Crystal Smith – Chief Councillor, Haisla Nation; chair of the First Nations LNG Alliance
• Roger Dall’Antonia, President and CEO of Fortis BC
• Mark Jacquard, SFU Professor and Director of the School of Resource and Environmental Management
• Ross Beaty - Chairman of Alterra Power

Oil and gas, LNG, Site C, wind, solar, geothermal, run-of-river, and even nuclear are all put forward by some as the way to meet BC’s growing demand for power – but also criticized for environmental impacts or lack of capacity and challenges with cost or practical application. Protests and violent opposition continue to dog energy projects, and governments & industry struggle to move forward with pipelines, ports, and processing facilities.

Burning fossil fuels is criticized as contributing to climate change, which is already causing significant issues with extreme weather. Yet, some argue Canada’s high environmental standards for fossil fuel extraction and carbon capture projects position us to be part of the solution globally, part of a transition away from burning dirty coal for electrical generation.

Which power source is the right one to meet BC’s growing energy demand, or is it really a question of using all available sources in a responsible and thoughtful manner? 

What role will First Nations play in BC’s energy future? We expect it will be a central one. 

And while we may not read about it much today the impacts of power generation decisions of past governments continue today – the Columbia River dams built in the Kootenays in the 1960s flooded productive agricultural land and continue to attract local anger, but generate huge amounts of power and limit flood risk. What lessons have we learned from this history?

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