Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:08:16 -0800
From: Scott Frederick <scott451@gmx.net>
Subject: [KCUTS] Province: Some Grits 'sick at heart' over proposed coal plants
Hello Kootenaycuts,
Some Grits 'sick at heart' over proposed coal plants
Campbell urged to explore clean-air energy alternatives
Michael Smyth
The Province
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Daniel Overmyer is a veteran B.C. Liberal Party activist who truly
believes the Gordon Campbell government has done good things for the
province.
But burning coal to generate electricity was going too far for the
long-serving member of Campbell's Vancouver-Point Grey riding
association.
He has resigned a committee position to protest the plan.
"It makes me sick at heart," the University of B.C. professor told me
yesterday.
"It's inexplicable to me that they want to shoot themselves in the
foot with a move as stupid as this. I just couldn't go along with it."
Overmyer served for four years as the Liberal Party policy chairman in
Campbell's home riding. Gravely concerned about global warming and
climate change, he personally encouraged Campbell to develop
non-polluting energy sources such as hydroelectricity.
But he said Campbell stood up at a recent riding association meeting
to rein in some of his enthusiasm.
"At one point the premier said, 'No matter what we do in British
Columbia, we won't have much impact on the world scene.' So I said,
'Yes, but at least we could set an example for the world!'"
It was soon after that meeting that Overmyer began hearing rumours of
the plan to build two large coal-burning power plants in the Interior
-- the first of their kind in B.C.
"I tried to get some kind of confirmation from the government, but
nobody would talk to me," he said.
A few weeks after that, the plan was confirmed in the media: Two
coal-burning plants -- one near Princeton, the other near Tumbler
Ridge -- had received preliminary approval.
"I immediately resigned from the members-at-large committee of the
riding as a direct protest," said the Asian studies professor.
"The Liberals have done good things and I still support the party
overall. But we are taking a big, big step backward with these plants.
I can't believe we're doing this.
"Look how countries like China and India are building these coal
plants and the harm they're causing the environment. We're giving up
any moral basis we had to encourage them to clean up."
This is not the first in-house strife the Liberals have suffered on
the issue.
Jim and Karen Manion are long-serving Liberals in Princeton (she's the
local vice-president; he sought the local election nomination in 2001)
who have publicly condemned the projects.
"There are many people inside the party who disagree with this," Jim
Manion told me. "Only a small minority are willing to say something."
As the internal pressure builds on the Liberals, the Opposition NDP
are piling on. Yesterday, NDP Leader Carole James revealed a third
coal-burning power plant has been proposed for Stewart.
"Gordon Campbell is looking back to last century's pollution-based
technology instead of promoting green alternatives that reduce
emissions," she said.
Will the government back down? The Liberal say no, but they've shown
before they're willing to fold their hand if the opposition gets
strong enough. (Witness the cancelled privatization of the Coquihalla
Highway.)
Something tells me the Liberals might think better of this one.
--
Only 884 organising days until the next BC provincial election.
Best regards,
Scott mailto:scott451@gmx.net
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