Editor,
Re: Minister Thomson objects to story, supports IPP projects, Letters, Mar. 30
An open letter to Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Land & Natural Resource Operations
We understand that as a highly paid individual in your position, it is your job to sell your former Premier’s ideology of Independent Power Producers as ‘green energy’ and continue to perpetuate this scenario under the leadership of an unelected and unseated premier.
An ever increasing number of well informed individuals, organizations and communities throughout the province – especially the Kootenays, are not sold on your so-called ‘green energy’ package. In the face of the cumulative environmental effects of tens of hundreds of proposed IPP developments, their objections are well founded based on scientific evidence and the evidence of detrimental effects of past hydroelectric generation projects – whether large or small.
Do you deny the scientific evidence that damming rivers and creeks stops the natural flow of nutrients – a detrimental effect on downstream fish and the food chain of natural wildlife?
- that by individually diverting creek water through pipes, leaving a mere 10 per cent remaining for several thousand yards – or even miles, forever alters natural ecosystems?
- that the cumulative effects of the above, and with the additional thousands of miles of forever deforested transmission lines and roads for hundreds of IPP developments throughout this province, increases greenhouse gas emissions?
- that you fear a Federal Environmental Assessment of the cumulative effects of your ‘green energy’ plan?
- that endangered wildlife species are affected and cannot recover on their own accord?
- that during winter months when power demand is highest both in B.C. and south of the border, power generated by IPP’s run-of-the-river is lowest?
- meaningful jobs are miniscual and short-termed?
- that IPPs, once approved, are not held responsible for unforeseen detrimental environmental impacts as a result of their actions or inactions?
You fail to inform the public: that environmentally life-chocking pilfering by IPPs will alter B.C. forever.
- that alternative energy production such as wind, wave, home solar hot water and geothermal heating systems will reduce grid power consumption forever and significantly increase long- term jobs and careers.
- and lastly, you fail to inform the public that they will be paying for IPP contracts sold to BC Hydro by way of 30 per cent or 50 per cent rate increases within the next few years.
Mr. Thomson, you can no longer sell a flawed energy package in the Kootenays.
Hans Dummerauf,
Arrow Lakes Environment Stewardship Society