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Focus on renewable resources

Writer takes issue with what he calls federal government's fast-track approach to environmental reviews.

In his article of Oct. 17, Colin Mayes takes his usual shot at ‘pipeline phobia’ and fears that the ‘underlying resistance’ could be ‘related to a backdoor approach to stopping the Alberta oil sands development.’

This is why he promotes the Conservative’s fast-track approach to environmental reviews, to ‘minimize the obstruction tactics used by some to compromise the applicant’s right to due timely process.’ Polls show the people of B.C. are opposed to the Northern Gateway project, and the UBCM (Union of B.C. Municipalities) recently voted against the Kinder Morgan proposal. Mr. Mayes’ view is offside with the will of the people, while promoting the oil industry.

A recent move by Saudi Arabia dropped oil pricing to $80 a barrel, break-even for the oil sands. This move reflects the growing realization that renewables are a rapidly growing percentage of world energy.

The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization are all in agreement that carbon emissions by 2050 need to drop to 20 per cent of current levels.

Guess which source of oil will drop first as over-produced oil prices start to slide? The dirtiest and most expensive extraction of oil in the world is from Alberta. Large pipelines, based solely on oil sands expansion, are infrastructure that is based and financed on a 50-year timeframe. Based on the rapid drop in price of solar, and the rapid progress in electric cars and smart cities, in 2050 we will have a pipeline leading from a ghost town to an idled port. Pipeline investors are currently taking a hard look at laying out the cash. And a bit of resistance is helping this good cause.

Time to put our emphasis on renewables and rebuilding the industrial base rather than putting all our eggs in one increasingly shaky basket.

 

 

Dave Smith

Federal Green Party Candidate for North Okanagan Shuswap