Island News & Views
General · 25th February 2009
Jim Abram
I am only going to speak of one topic in this issue since we are approaching the March 1st town hall meeting at the Quadra Community Centre.
Town Hall Meeting - Bute Inlet power project - Sunday, March 1st, 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Centre - LUNCH SERVED!
I have been completely consumed with this issue for the past two months. For those of you have been following this issue in my previous reports, you are aware of the controversy. For those who are unfamiliar with the project, please visit ButeInlet.net for a description and for various resource materials. This is a huge development. It is in the magnitude of the Site C hydro dam that is proposed and is the largest run-of-the-river project to date. It will impact Bute Inlet, the Homathco, Southgate and Oroford Rivers with more than 17 generating stations, many miles of roads and infrastructure and 440 kilometres of major transmission lines.
I think that most of you are aware of the pending global climate change issue. Our dependance on fossil fuels has brought us to the edge of irreversible negative impact. Our reluctance to conserve at a global level has exacerbated this situation. Our continuing consumptive habits and need for "growth" are doing nothing to help the situation. The need for change is immediate.
Having said all of that, I will say that producing alternative energy sources is extremely important. The power produced by alternative sources MUST be used to reduce the power that is being produced by burning fossil fuels. This argument is being used in the case of Bute Inlet. However, we have no assurance that the power produced will be used to reduce the continuing use of fossil fuels for producing power. I would argue that it will most likely be used to promote more growth and have no impact on the reduction of fossil fuel use. This is a debate that could go on for much more space than I have in this report!
My point is, that the Bute Inlet project is not the right project and not in the right place. There are better alternative technologies for producing sustainable power in greater quantities and that can be placed in areas that will not destroy such an incredible ecosystem. There is no need to sacrifice the ecological values of Bute Inlet and the watersheds emptying into it, nor to destroy the spiritual values that are part and parcel of the area. There is another compelling reason to preserve this wilderness area; many small businesses that add millions of dollars to our local economy will be adversely impacted and may even be forced to cease operation due to the degradation of the values that people go there to enjoy. We have worked together for the past twenty years to diversify our economy and the result is a thriving eco-tourism and recreational economy that employs many local people and has kept our communities vibrant. We must preserve this area.
Preservation does not mean sticking our heads in the sand with regard to global climate change. We must at the same time that we oppose this project, insist that our provincial government embark on an immediate planning process for both alternative power production and for transmission of that power by the least destructive means. This process will consider the need for the power, the best possible technology to be pursued and the best location for each. Without this type of planning process we will be forced to come out and defend ecosystem after ecosystem. We would be much better off spending our time getting the best bang for our buck and getting to work on installing new alternative energy sources. We must also aggressively pursue conservation measures, locally, regionally and globally. Reduction of fossil fuel use is paramount.
I would encourage each and every one of you to come out to one of the more important meetings of the year. The Environmental Assessment Office will be there to hear your concerns and this will help to guide the process to the next level of review which is a Joint Panel Review at the Federal government level. This is a much more thorough look at the issues and will allow for more public input, public hearings and informed scientific studies. Your attendance at this meeting will help to make that happen. The meeting will be recorded so that your comments will not be lost. The one in Campbell River was not recorded.
As I mentioned in the last report, Quadra, Cortes and the outer islands and inlets will now get their say at this stage of the process. I am very pleased to have been able to get this meeting and I hope that we will have an overflow crowd. I am depending on you to make it so. Bring your friends, neighbours and relatives! With overwhelming public concern we may be able to stop or slow this project so that it can have a more proper Federal review. This is not only about Bute Inlet. This is about the rest of the coast as well. It won't stop here!. Loughborough and Knight Inlets are next and applications are already in process.
So, once again, PLEASE ATTEND this very important meeting
That is it for this issue. Feel free to call me between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday (not on weekends, folks!) at 285-3355, or you can fax me at 285-3533 or you can email me anytime at abramfamoberon.ark.com , or by mail at Box 278 in the Cove, V0P 1N0... Lots of choices!
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Abram
Director, Discovery Islands - Mainland Inlets (Area C), SRD
Town Hall Meeting - Bute Inlet power project - Sunday, March 1st, 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Centre - LUNCH SERVED!
I have been completely consumed with this issue for the past two months. For those of you have been following this issue in my previous reports, you are aware of the controversy. For those who are unfamiliar with the project, please visit ButeInlet.net for a description and for various resource materials. This is a huge development. It is in the magnitude of the Site C hydro dam that is proposed and is the largest run-of-the-river project to date. It will impact Bute Inlet, the Homathco, Southgate and Oroford Rivers with more than 17 generating stations, many miles of roads and infrastructure and 440 kilometres of major transmission lines.
I think that most of you are aware of the pending global climate change issue. Our dependance on fossil fuels has brought us to the edge of irreversible negative impact. Our reluctance to conserve at a global level has exacerbated this situation. Our continuing consumptive habits and need for "growth" are doing nothing to help the situation. The need for change is immediate.
Having said all of that, I will say that producing alternative energy sources is extremely important. The power produced by alternative sources MUST be used to reduce the power that is being produced by burning fossil fuels. This argument is being used in the case of Bute Inlet. However, we have no assurance that the power produced will be used to reduce the continuing use of fossil fuels for producing power. I would argue that it will most likely be used to promote more growth and have no impact on the reduction of fossil fuel use. This is a debate that could go on for much more space than I have in this report!
My point is, that the Bute Inlet project is not the right project and not in the right place. There are better alternative technologies for producing sustainable power in greater quantities and that can be placed in areas that will not destroy such an incredible ecosystem. There is no need to sacrifice the ecological values of Bute Inlet and the watersheds emptying into it, nor to destroy the spiritual values that are part and parcel of the area. There is another compelling reason to preserve this wilderness area; many small businesses that add millions of dollars to our local economy will be adversely impacted and may even be forced to cease operation due to the degradation of the values that people go there to enjoy. We have worked together for the past twenty years to diversify our economy and the result is a thriving eco-tourism and recreational economy that employs many local people and has kept our communities vibrant. We must preserve this area.
Preservation does not mean sticking our heads in the sand with regard to global climate change. We must at the same time that we oppose this project, insist that our provincial government embark on an immediate planning process for both alternative power production and for transmission of that power by the least destructive means. This process will consider the need for the power, the best possible technology to be pursued and the best location for each. Without this type of planning process we will be forced to come out and defend ecosystem after ecosystem. We would be much better off spending our time getting the best bang for our buck and getting to work on installing new alternative energy sources. We must also aggressively pursue conservation measures, locally, regionally and globally. Reduction of fossil fuel use is paramount.
I would encourage each and every one of you to come out to one of the more important meetings of the year. The Environmental Assessment Office will be there to hear your concerns and this will help to guide the process to the next level of review which is a Joint Panel Review at the Federal government level. This is a much more thorough look at the issues and will allow for more public input, public hearings and informed scientific studies. Your attendance at this meeting will help to make that happen. The meeting will be recorded so that your comments will not be lost. The one in Campbell River was not recorded.
As I mentioned in the last report, Quadra, Cortes and the outer islands and inlets will now get their say at this stage of the process. I am very pleased to have been able to get this meeting and I hope that we will have an overflow crowd. I am depending on you to make it so. Bring your friends, neighbours and relatives! With overwhelming public concern we may be able to stop or slow this project so that it can have a more proper Federal review. This is not only about Bute Inlet. This is about the rest of the coast as well. It won't stop here!. Loughborough and Knight Inlets are next and applications are already in process.
So, once again, PLEASE ATTEND this very important meeting
That is it for this issue. Feel free to call me between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday (not on weekends, folks!) at 285-3355, or you can fax me at 285-3533 or you can email me anytime at abramfamoberon.ark.com , or by mail at Box 278 in the Cove, V0P 1N0... Lots of choices!
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Abram
Director, Discovery Islands - Mainland Inlets (Area C), SRD