B.C. has become increasingly dependent on electricity imports, and that香蕉视频直播檚 a problem, according to Barry Penner, chair of the Energy Futures Institute (EFI) and former MLA.

香蕉视频直播淔or the last two years we香蕉视频直播檝e imported the equivalent of two Site C dams香蕉视频直播� worth of electricity,香蕉视频直播� Penner said, referring to the $16-billion hydroelectric project in northeastern B.C. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e become dependent on the United States for electricity because of our own complacency.香蕉视频直播�

He noted that it cost , due in part to ongoing drought in many areas of the province.

香蕉视频直播淎bout 95 per cent of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 electricity comes from hydro,香蕉视频直播� Penner said. 香蕉视频直播淲ithout precipitation, you don香蕉视频直播檛 have hydroelectric. And this year香蕉视频直播檚 snowpack isn香蕉视频直播檛 looking any better.香蕉视频直播�

To make matters worse, Penner points out, B.C. is aggressively pushing for an electrified economy香蕉视频直播攎ore electric vehicles, more heat pumps, and less reliance on natural gas. While B.C. is banning new natural gas power generation, it香蕉视频直播檚 importing electricity from Alberta and the U.S. where power is largely generated by burning fossil fuels.

According to 2022 figures on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, fossil fuels were the most common fuel type for electricity production in the U.S. with natural gas accounting for about 40 per cent of total energy production. Coal was second at nearly 20 per cent and nuclear third at 18 per cent. The Alberta government website states that, since 2018, natural gas has accounted for the bulk of electricity generation in the province.

香蕉视频直播淔rom the atmosphere香蕉视频直播檚 perspective, it gives not a damn where the emissions are generated,香蕉视频直播� Penner said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e just shifting our greenhouse gases (GHG) to Wyoming or Alberta and letting them take the hit on paper while we are trying to show that we香蕉视频直播檙e reducing our emissions.香蕉视频直播�

But even at that we香蕉视频直播檙e failing, he said. Penner pointed out that the . It got no media pickup, and nobody noticed it - that was intended, he said.

香蕉视频直播淥ur emissions went up three per cent in the whole last year, exactly the year they said that our emissions would drop 16 per cent compared to 2007. So news flash, we're not meeting the legal requirement this year to be 16 per cent below 2007 levels, we are above and trending upwards.香蕉视频直播�

Penner also called out the province for blocking natural gas projects that could provide stable, local energy. In December 2023, the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) denied FortisBC香蕉视频直播檚 $327-million Okanagan pipeline project, which would have improved natural gas supply to the region. 

Instead, BCUC recently approved a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility in Kelowna, which will see LNG trucked over the Coquihalla Highway instead of delivering it through a pipeline.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檒l be passing those trucks on the highway,香蕉视频直播� Penner pointed out. 香蕉视频直播淎nd by the way, what are the greenhouse gas emissions of trucking LNG up and over the Coquihalla? A lot more than if it were in a pipeline.香蕉视频直播�

He also noted that BC Hydro香蕉视频直播檚 finances aren香蕉视频直播檛 looking great. 香蕉视频直播淭heir debt was only supposed to go up $2.5 billion last year - it went up $3.3 billion.香蕉视频直播� 

Penner said much of the increase is attributable to the additional purchases of 香蕉视频直播榤arket power.香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 the euphemism in the budget documents for importing electricity from south of the border.香蕉视频直播�

Speaking to reporters at the Legislature on Thursday (Mar. 6), Premier David Eby said the province has 香蕉视频直播渂een forced into contingency planning香蕉视频直播� due to BC Hydro香蕉视频直播檚 reliance on imported electricity.

Penner welcomed recognition of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 vulnerability. 香蕉视频直播淗owever, the next step after acknowledging a problem is to do something about it,香蕉视频直播� he said in a .

He added that there is a way out香蕉视频直播攂ut it requires B.C. to rethink its energy policies.

香蕉视频直播淟et us continue to use natural gas, with more efficiency, of course. But the idea that the Okanagan should be forced to not grow using natural gas is again another self-imposed straitjacket of your economy.香蕉视频直播�

Penner served four terms in the B.C. Legislature as the province's Attorney General, environment minister, and Aboriginal relations minister.

He made his comments as part of a panel discussing U.S. tariffs at UBC Okanagan on Mar. 5.