| NDP Dismisses Clean Energy Jobs as Junk
May 28, 2010 NDP Dismisses Clean Energy Jobs as Junk VANDERHOOF – The NDP must apologize for dismissing clean energy projects and the jobs they create as “junk” and admit they have no plan for British Columbia’s future economic growth, says Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “These projects create jobs in rural communities and are going to help power our homes and businesses in the future,” says Rustad. “The rising use of technology and the growing B.C. population are putting larger and larger demands on our power supply. Where does the NDP think they’ll get the energy to power their homes, their computers, their Blackberries?” Rustad was responding to comments from NDP energy critic John Horgan, who stood in the B.C. Legislature this week and called IPPs “junk power. Simple as that.” “It must be nice to live in Horgan’s ‘simple’ world where ignoring the energy needs of British Columbians is a good idea,” says Rustad. “I’d like the NDP to tell those working and benefiting from clean, renewable energy projects that it’s ‘junk power. To casually dismiss those jobs is incredibly disrespectful of rural communities and highlights the NDP’s lack of understanding of what's important to rural B.C. We have a plan and we’re going to make sure we have the power we need for the future.” Clean, renewable energy projects are making a positive impact in British Columbia. Independent Power Producers: • Provide more than 1,100 jobs on 48 operating projects and additional 15 projects are currently under construction. These projects represent an estimated $5.4 billion in capital investments (at 2008 values). • Generate 5,000 GWh of electricity - enough to supply 500,000 homes in B.C. • Operating green IPP projects have already enabled an annual reduction of 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG) that would otherwise have resulted from B.C. importing more power from coal-fired plants. “For the NDP to oppose moving forward on energy production is both reckless and misinformed,” says Rustad. “I suggest they get their facts straight and support our government’s goal to be electrical self-sufficient by 2016. These are good jobs, a significant investment and will power our future.” -30- | |
| © 2007 Government Caucus of British Columbia. All Rights Reserved. |