A Tale Of Two Sciences – Fracking

B.C.s Environmental Appeal Board has revoked a water licence granted to Nexen Inc in 2012, ruling that the original licence was based on bad science. Score one for the Fort Nelson First Nation and 0 for Nexen.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/story/1.3219589

The recent earthquakes in Fox Creek, Alberta have been linked to hydrofracturing (or “fracking”), which is a method used to facilitate the extraction of oil and gas from shale rock. University of Alberta is sponsoring a seminar,”Fracking and Earthquakes…a cause for concern?

http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fracking-and-earthquakes-a-cause-for-concern-tickets-17680605166

Tom Rand – Walking The Frog

Tom Rands’ inspirational presentation on climate solutions given in Nelson, B.C. in March

Tom is a best-selling author, cleantech investor, and global thought leader with a recognized record of extraordinary achievement in the promotion of a low carbon economy

Find out more about Tom Rand at http://www.tomrand.net/

Portland Propane Project Derailed

In September of 2014 Pembina Pipleline announced that it planned to build a $500 million propane export terminal near the Port of Portland . In May, in spite of a promise of 800 construction jobs and $12 million in taxes being injected into the economy every year, local citizens concerned about the environmental impact of the project, torpedoed the plan.

Initially, the Mayor of Portland Charlie Hales, supported the project, downplaying safety concerns about moving propane by rail though the port. Once environmentalists and community organizations organized against Pembina creating overwhelming opposition to the project, the mayor reversed his support.

PORTLAND TRIBUNE: JONATHAN HOUSE – Protesters came out in force against the proposed project at the Port of Portland during the Planning and Sustainabiltiy hearings on it.

On May 7, Pembina reaffirmed its plans to proceed towards next steps in the development of its proposed Portland Propane Export Terminal Project. Mayor Hales will be one of five votes that will be represented at the City Council hearing, scheduled for June 10, 2015.

For a summary of the story from the Audubon Society of Portland click here

 

What To Do About Climate Change

The climate change issue is very complex. First Things First Okanagan recently sponsored UBC professor Simon Donner to speak to the issue at the Penticton Library. Simon gave overwhelming evidence that climate change is real, happening now and caused by humans. Many people feel overwhelmed and repeated ask WHAT CAN WE DO? We as volunteers do not have all the answers. First Things First Okanagan encourages you to become active, engage, learn more, demand that Canada model better outcomes. Change will only come if and when people like you do something. It is up to US, the human race, individually and collectively to find ways to change the path of destruction we seem to have embraced. We have a responsibility as global citizens to care for the earth.

Here are some suggestions of what you can do:

• Vote- to influence the direction of local and federal decisions
• Write politicians and demand that Canada commits to the Copenhagen Accord. Take action at the Paris summit. We, as a country need to do better
• Create study groups, become educated and talk to others
• Support organisations you believe in: Lead Now, Dogwood Initiative, Suzuki Foundation are just some groups interested in Environmental protection
• Plant trees, compost and garden to reduce your carbon footprint
• Support alternative sustainable energy systems: some countries subsidize solar and wind initiatives
• Protect our environment: Protest when air and or water quality is jeopardised
• Use your voice and or $$ to influence decisions
• Live your life a little differently. Be creative
• Google: How to reduce your carbon footprint
• Check our website: okfirstthingsfirst.wordpress.com

Katherine Tomczuk – member of the FTF Board

March 21, 2015

Canada’s First Solar Thermal Plant

Something that may surprise you. Canada’s first Solar Thermal Plant is located in Medicine Hat, Alberta, “Canada’s Sunniest City”. It’s a pretty cool sight to see — row after row of large concave metal mirrors glowing in the early morning sun on the hill just above the Trans-Canada Highway and Medicine Hat’s existing natural gas power plant.

 

To compliment the solar power station, in the summer of 2014 Medicine Hat built the Box Springs Wind Farm, which can generate enough electricity to power 2,000 homes. They state that the cost of power generated is a mere 9cents per Kwh.

 

Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston, “… And you know what, you can debate it all day long. It’s the right thing to do.”

Alberta Federation Of Labor And Deep Decarbonization – Conflict or Harmony?

Can Canada continue to grow employment in oil and gas and at the same time develop employment opportunities in technologically innovative clean energy sectors?

While federal performance standards are yielding a decline in vehicle emissions and the electricity generation sector is producing the largest reduction in CHG’s due to government clean air measures, Environment Canada’s 2013 publication, Canada’s Emission Trends, forecast Oil and Gas to be the largest contributor to CHG emissions by 2020 with a 23% increase. This will basically replace the the reduced 38 Mt of carbon emissions from electricity generation that government measures have produced.

“The electricity generating sector is the largest contributor to total emissions reductions, largely due to the combined impact of various government measures to create a cleaner electricity system, predominately by replacing coal fired generation with natural gas and hydro capacity. Electricity emissions are projected to decline by 38 Mt (31%) between 2005 and 2020. In contrast, increased production in Canada’s oil sands is expected to drive a rise in emissions from the oil and gas sector of 38 Mt (23%) between 2005 and 2020”.

In a recent Tyee interview the President of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), Gil McGowan talked about how a  more regulated pace of development would be good for workers and the environment. “It certainly wouldn’t kill the industry”.

Can Canada better balance Tar Sends development and carbon emissions from transportation and electricity generation to still reduce our total emissions? Check out the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project to hear from another source about the innovative transformation Canada can make towards “deep decarbonization”.

Enviro Canada’s Failing West Coast Weather Bouys

On March 18 The Federal Government announced new safety measures for Pacific Coast shipping to allay British Columbian’s fears of potential West Coast oil spills.

At the time Canada’s (then) Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver and Transport Minister Denis Lebel flew to British Columbia to announce the new measures where they advertised the plan for “world class tanker safety.”

Even B.C.’s Minister Of The Environment Terry Lake got in on the good news. “It looks to me like they’re making a great effort and they understand from British Columbians that you can’t simply increase the transport of hazardous goods through B.C. without also increasing the environmental safeguards and protection mechanisms that are in place.”

Shortly after that announcement, one of the offshore weather stations used by mariners in Queen Charlotte Sound went off the air, no longer transmitting reports to ocean going traffic. According to a story by The Tyee there are two other weather tracking stations on the West Coast, managed by Environment Canada that are also our of commission, one of which will probably not be fixed until May of 2015.

The Tyee also reported in March, ” that Environment Canada weather services will be slashed about 18 percent between now and 2016/17. Funding for “reliable, accurate and timely forecasts and warnings” will drop from $166 million to about $143 million in 2017″.

Looks like a sequel –  “The Perfect Storm II”, on the West Coast of British Columbia coming to theatres near you.

Penticton Climate Action Advisory Committee

Did you know that the City Of Penticton has a Climate Action Advisory Committee?

According to their Terms of Reference the Committee’s mandate is to make recommendations to Council on all matters referred to the Committee, including:
 The City of Penticton Corporate and Community Climate Action Plan;
 Fostering public awareness, recognition and support for a healthy and
sustainable natural environment;
 Providing Recommendations on specific environmental, planning, building
construction, and waste management goals, policies and bylaws;
 Providing input on submissions to other levels of Government in relation to
environmental issues;

 Recommending changes to operational protocols that would make the City
more sustainable.
 Making suggestions to help the City achieve carbon neutrality and its climate
action obligations under provincial legislation.
 Implementation of the City’s Corporate and Climate Action Planning work.
 Making recommendations to help the City adapt to Climate Change.

For more information on this group you can go to:

http://www.penticton.ca/EN/main/city/committees-boards/climate-action-advisory-committee.html

Kinder Morgan and Burnaby Mountain

“This is not the end of this. This is only the beginning of what is a long war to protect our rights … this battle is between federal forces and local governments beyond Burnaby.”

The words of a misguided environmental activist?  No, a statement by the newly re-elected Mayor of Burnaby Derek Corrigan. Burnaby City Council has refused to issue a permit for the pipeline and is fighting in the courts, many thousands of British Columbians would like to see Kinder Morgan turned away and there are a handful of people taking a stand.

John Vaillant writes in the November 22nd Tyee, “On Burnaby Mountain Confronting The Gorilla”  why he is on the Mountain.

What Can The Okanagan Learn From Germany?

In the ongoing conversation between the carbon cheerleaders and environmentalists, the environmentalists stand accused of sabotaging jobs and the economy. Has anyone ever considered a middle road for Canada, improving our carbon emission standards while continuing to mine oil and gas; and at the same time investing in renewable energy sources?

In his article, “Five Lessons for Canada from Germany’s Clean Energy Revolution,” Geoff Dembicki presents a powerful economic argument for investment in renewables. “The industry has created 370,000 jobs. Environmental sectors contribute over eight per cent of the country’s GDP. And carbon emissions are down 23 per cent from 1990 levels.” Read more in the Tyee.