David Suzuki Foundation congratulates B.C. Hydro on dropping Duke Point project

June 17, 2005 - VANCOUVER, B.C.- Today, the David Suzuki Foundation congratulated the provincially owned utility provider B.C. Hydro on abandoning plans for a proposed 252-megawatt natural gas power plant on Vancouver Island.

If built, the Duke Point power plant, located near Nanaimo, would release 800,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually--about as much exhaust as 180,000 cars.

“B.C. Hydro has shown courageous leadership,” said Jim Fulton, Executive Director of the David Suzuki Foundation. “This is an exciting opportunity for B.C. Hydro to do the right thing and build an innovative clean economy that will be a model for other provinces to follow.”

According to Ian Bruce, Climate Change Specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation: “B.C.’s renewable energy sector has been called a ‘sleeping economic giant’. This decision could be the alarm clock that wakes the giant.”

He continued: “Studies have shown that alternative renewable energy sources for Duke Point would be cheaper, create more jobs in renewable energy production, and create nearly 70 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”

Instead of building expensive, polluting gas plants like Duke Point, BC Hydro and other provincial utilities should be expanding efficiency and renewable energy programs. There is a 450 MW wind farm ready to be constructed on the north end of Vancouver Island that has already passed environmental review. But, to date, BC Hydro turned it down.

For more information, call:

Ian Bruce
Climate change specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
604-732-4228, ext. 275 or cell: 604-306-5095
ibruce@davidsuzuki.org