Plugged In - BCCPP eNews December 2009

The 2009 year has been perhaps the most high profile on record with respect to the public vs private power debate in BC. The diverse and complex social, economic, and environmental factors associated with this issue have attracted academics, economists, First Nations leaders, labour unions, environmental scientists and activists. While the provincial government remains determined to implement its energy policy—the battle to save BC’s public utility and natural resources rages on. 

We hope you’ll close out 2009 by deepening your commitment to this cause and responding to the calls for action outlined below:

Take Action

1.     Join: BCCPP’s PUBLIC DEFENDERS
In order to continue our valuable work, BC Citizens for Public Power  needs ongoing financial support. We are seeking 100 new or existing donors to join our team of PUBLIC DEFENDERS by contributing a minimum of $10 per month. Monthly donors provide a stable revenue stream to BCCPP, while reducing administrative costs. Small monthly gifts also add up to significant support over the year. Please help us carry on our important work to save and protect BC’s public utility:

Download a donation form and become a PUBLIC DEFENDER 
Read BCCPP's Two Year Progress and Financial Report  

2.     Share your ideas:  BC’s Green Energy Advisory Task Force
On November 30th, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources issued an Information Bulletin about BC’s Green Energy Advisory Task Force and its website http://www.greenenergytaskforce.ca/. The website is a public opinion research tool and will collect feedback from British Columbians about: clean energy procurement and regulatory reform; carbon pricing, trading and clean energy export market development; community engagement and First Nations partnerships; and clean energy resource development. Submissions can be made via an email form until Dec. 31, 2009. Ideas and input submitted through the website will help inform the recommendations the Task Force makes to government in January 2010.  

Opinions about the Green Energy Advisory Task Force and its survey methods vary. On the one hand, the provincial government’s energy policy has involved virtually no public consultation; all decisions to date have been made clandestinely, behind closed doors, by bureaucrats and invited IPP industrialists—so the opportunity to submit feedback is important. On the other hand, membership on the Task Force has been exclusively by government invitation and committee reports /recommendations will be prepared by January 2010—allowing only a 5 week consultation period, in the middle of Christmas and New Year’s holidays. 

As public power supporters, you may wish to submit your opinions to the Green Energy Task Force. If you choose to do so, you may also wish to indicate that the very brief consultation period raises questions about the authenticity of this public process.  

3.    Vote: BC’s Newsmaker of the Year
Many public power and allied groups have been doing all we can to alert the public about what private Run of River hydro projects mean to our province—and perhaps none as passionately as Rafe Mair, who toured BC for months, speaking to residents in all corners of the province. He was trying to do what the media should have being doing more of: reporting on the sale of our rivers, the privatization of our electricity sector, and what it all means for residents of British Columbia.

Please help keep this issue in the spotlight by casting your vote for Rafe Mair as BC’s “Newsmaker of the Year.” If Rafe wins the contest, energy privatization in BC—especially private Run of River projects—will get some of the media attention that it deserves.

Click here to cast your vote by December 11th.

Information and Resources
The Council of Canadians, working with the Canadian Labour Congress, have produced Green Decent and Public, a report on opportunities for creating green jobs to improve energy efficiency and rapidly expanding electricity produced from renewable resources. Public and community ownership of renewable power is offered as an alternative path to further market liberalization in the electricity sector. Advantages of public sector ownership include retaining economic revenues, maximizing social benefits, prioritizing conservation, and ensuring energy security. 

The full report is available at: Green Decent and Public
The executive summary is available at: Green Decent and Public 

Where your money goes ...  
BCCPP's Two Year Progress Report summarizes some of our key achievements and provides an accounting of the organization’s financial activities from 2008 and 2009. 

Read BCCPP's Two Year Progress Report 

Support our Work
BC Citizens for Public Power is a registered non-profit society funded by individuals and groups. Join our crew of PUBLIC DEFENDERS by becoming a monthly donor or support our work by sending a donation. 

Learn more about the work of BCCPP. 
Download a donation form and mail it back to us with your contribution.  

If you would like to be notified about social action events, let us know.

Stay plugged-in and energized on this issue!