News Release - August 26, 2009
VICTORIA- The B.C. Liberals' post-election energy policy reversal exposes their pre-election lie about energy self-sufficiency, says Opposition energy critic John Horgan. "Before the election the Liberals told British Columbians that the reason we needed to pay outrageous prices for unreliable power was because we needed to be energy self sufficient," said Horgan. "Now they are trying to tell us that their ‘buy high sell low' policy will be good for taxpayers and BC Hydro."
The B.C. Utilities commission recently ruled that the B.C. Liberals energy plan, which is essentially a massive public subsidy of private power producers, was not in the public interest.
"The B.C. Liberal plan to promote private power production on B.C. rivers and streams was issued a serious set back by the BCUC at the end of July. Now at the end of August Gordon Campbell announced his government will direct the independent commission to approve private power projects whether or not they are in the public interest." Horgan said.
Horgan noted that the throne speech made it clear the B.C. Liberals planned to interfere with the BCUC, the province's independent energy watch-dog, to protect their friends and donors in the private power industry. The private power industry donated more than $300,000 to the B.C. Liberal party in the run up to the last election.
"Not only has the premier trashed the independence of the BCUC, but he signaled his intention to promote his political backers in the energy sector by building expensive run of river projects on B.C. rivers and streams so we can ramp up exports to California. I doubt British Columbians want to see our environment and natural beauty despoiled so Californians can run their air conditioners." Horgan said.
"The BCUC said that it was in the public's best interest to focus on meeting our energy needs through conservation, yet the B.C. Liberals are cutting conservation measures and locking us in to over-priced energy contracts."
The B.C. Liberal government recently cancelled LiveSmart, a program which provided incentives for homeowners to be more energy efficient. The B.C. Liberal HST will also eliminate tax exemptions for environmentally friendly and energy efficient products like insulation for pipes and hot water tanks.
Carole James and the Official Opposition are committed to preserving British Columbia's low-cost, low-carbon, energy advantage.
- 30 -
