The Livable Blog

Our perceptions as laymen and professionals can differ widely at times, which is why I posted this article. We all know that BC has vast amounts of Hydro electricity and the geo-climatic resources to produce even more. As for tidal power, as a relative layperson I do know that our geography probably would lend itself well to relatively cost efficient installations, despite the fact that the tidal power industry is still in its relative infancy compared to the wind and especially hydro power industries. Wind power is booming across the world right now, despite the "on again-off again" nature of wind. I would have assumed that BC being a coastal and mountainous province with high plateaus it would be a natural for wind power. Recently however, I was speaking to a BC'er who is an installer of large, (300'+) German wind turbines, and when asked why he is doing all his work in the US or Europe his reply was that there is no appetite for wind in BC. Because the renewable power market is simply controlled and driven by hydro projects.

Will BC ever become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy? Even now the question itself cannot be easily answered.

B.C. Liberals selling out our energy future

Climate and terrain could make us the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy
Ralph Keller, Arthur Caldicott and Jim Abram, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, January 28, 2009

There is an energy "gold rush" happening in British Columbia. With our mountainous terrain and wet-coast climate, we are poised to become the world's Saudi Arabia of sustainable energy from a variety of sources including run of river, wind and tidal power.

If fully exploited, these resources could create four times more power than B.C. Hydro currently produces, and give us billions of dollars for provincial coffers. But only if the resource remains a public asset, managed for public benefits.