Energy meeting seeking opinions

Powell River Peak
09/27/2007

Everyone on Texada Island and the mainland of Powell River who wonders about the proposal for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and power plant on Texada Island won't want to miss the public meeting and community forum at 7 pm on Monday, October 1 at the Powell River Town Centre Hotel.

Rafe Mair, BC's best-known political commentator and broadcaster, will moderate what should be a lively discussion of all the issues impacting the Powell River area.

"Residents from Texada are calling for a referendum on the proposed LNG megaproject, and residents throughout the region are calling for a moratorium on all future private power development," said Denise Reinhardt, one of the organizers of the meeting.

Chuck Childress, from Texada Action Now (TAN); Andy Ross, from Take Back the Power and president of COPE (Canadian Office and Professional Employees) Local 378; Tom Hackney from the Sierra Club BC Chapter; and Reinhardt, from the Powell River Chapter of the Council of Canadians, will speak briefly. Also invited are Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Richard Neufeld, and Minister of Environment Barry Penner, as well as representatives of the Tla'Amin (Sliammon) First Nation, directors of the Powell River Regional District, and mayor and council of the City of Powell River. Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast, will welcome the communities and guests and open the event. Several other MLAs, Members of Parliament, and local government representatives have been also invited.

"Many community members on Texada have strongly objected to this plan, and they will speak out at this meeting on their concerns about safety, environmental degradation and the transformation of their community into Energy (for others) Central," said Reinhardt. "People in Powell River will have their first chance to have their say. And all will hear and discuss how BC's energy plan resulted in this proposal and what it means for the citizens here and throughout BC, both today and in the long term."

The event is sponsored by the Council of Canadians, the Sierra Club, COPE 378 and Take Back the Power. "The sponsors look forward to forming Malaspina Communities for Public Power, to work on the issues raised at the meeting."

A free shuttle will operate between the Westview ferry terminal and the Town Centre Hotel for Texada residents.

For more information, interested readers can contact Reinhardt, at 604.483.3683, or denise@creativemediation.com.

©The Powell River Peak 2007

Gas facility undesirable

Carolyn Wood
Richard Fletcher
Collier Quinton
Texada Island, BC
Powell River Peak
09/27/2007

It is believed the vast majority of Texada Island residents are strongly opposed to the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility ["Texada group demands referendum," September 19].

It appears that WestPac LNG's main intention is to ship gas sourced via LNG to Sumas, Washington. An August 13 letter between Terasen Gas Inc. (TGVI/TGI), and the ministry of energy, mines and petroleum resources, posted on the BC Utilities Commission website, clearly states that Terasen Gas has "had preliminary discussions with WestPac regarding the Texada Island project proposal."

Of importance, this letter states: These discussions have generally been limited to the ability of the TGVI and TGI systems to move imported LNG from Texada Island back to the market hub at Huntington/Sumas as a firm base load or a seasonal gas supply.

In direct contradiction to this letter, WestPac's website states the Texada LNG facility is intended only as an "energy and power supply strategy for BC coastal communities."

There are some very significant facts of which Texada and Power River residents should be aware.

It is well known in the gas industry that WestPac's project justification comes in being able to ship large quantities of gas by pipeline from BC to the United States (US).

The US wants LNG but is unwilling to allow import terminals or large tankers in their country, otherwise they would import LNG directly.

There are no LNG facilities on the US Pacific coast; proposals have been rejected due to concerns over pollution and safety.

The unthinkable is the passage of huge LNG tankers up the Georgia Strait, beside Victoria and the Gulf Islands. There would be large exclusion zones around ships and the plant itself. Just imagine the damage to shipping and commerce.

An accident at an LNG plant or aboard a tanker would threaten large swathes of the population. Powell River and Lund would be directly in the firing line. When asked if there could be gas leaks, on September 10, WestPac's president answered: "Yes, I won't deny it. Explosions can happen."

And we want cruise ships to dock in Powell River?

©The Powell River Peak 2007

Regional board rejects LNG motion

Laura Walz, Editor
Powell River Peak
09/27/2007

Texada Island director puts forward referendum motion that other representatives refuse to adopt

Texada Island's director on the Powell River Regional District board found scant support from other elected officials for action on a proposal for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility and natural gas-fired power generation plant.

Dave Murphy added the proposal by WestPac LNG to the September 20 board meeting agenda. After explaining concerns island residents have been expressing to him, Murphy attempted to make a motion covering four points: to have the regional district embark on a process to initiate a referendum in the future; to hire a consultant to provide unbiased information to the board; to make the WestPac proposal a planning priority and include the issue in a proposed Texada Island protection bylaw; and to hold the next regional board meeting on Texada.

Colin Palmer, board chairman and Electoral Area C director, said he would not accept a motion with four "avenues. I'm not going to accept one motion," he said.

Palmer asked Murphy to make one motion on each point.

Palmer pointed out that WestPac's plan [is] not [a] project. "It's a proposal at this stage and we're going to work out the details," he said. "When the details appear, we'll definitely be voting on a project."

Palmer also said he was "a little bit worried" about setting a precedent and added that a referendum would be a "legalized opinion. It won't be binding. This is not the United States."

Stan Gisborne, Area B director who lives in Paradise Valley, asked who would vote in a referendum; Texada residents or the entire regional district. "I happen to live closer to that proposed site than many residents of Texada Island," he said.

Patrick Brabazon, Electoral Area A director, echoed Gisborne's question. "This is a regional issue," he said. "I'm assuming it would be regional referendum. Secondly, we don't have a question. Without a question and without a decision on who gets to vote, I'm out."

Other directors said it was too soon to make a decision about a referendum and they didn't have enough information about the issue.

When the vote was taken, Murphy was the only director to vote in favour of it. He then attempted to make a motion to find a source of funding to hire a consultant to provide unbiased information. But Palmer said, "We can't have a motion like that. The board knows we don't do that. It's irresponsible."

No one seconded Murphy's motion and it died.

The second motion Murphy made, which did have a seconder, was to make the WestPac proposal a planning priority.

Palmer said it could be one of the priorities. "I'm not going to give up the southern OCP [Official Community Plan] after 12 years, I'll tell you that," he said. "I've been waiting too long."

The motion was defeated, but Merrick Anderson, the Lasqueti Island director, voted in favour of it, along with Murphy.

The third motion Murphy made was to hold a regional board meeting on Texada sometime in the near future.

Myrna Leishman, City of Powell River director, said she didn't mind going to Texada. "But I don't want to go to Texada to be hung," she said. "I could go to Texada once I have all the information so that it's a board meeting with proper information. I don't want to go there and have a hundred people yelling at the board."

That motion passed, with Gisborne and Brabazon voting in opposition to it.
Murphy told the Peak the following day that what happened at the board meeting was not democracy. "I was appalled at Colin Palmer's and some of the other director's behaviour," he said. "The board chairman doesn't have the right to spin my motions."

Murphy also said the board was "dysfunctional" and Palmer "should resign."

Chuck Childress, a spokesman for TAN (Texada Action Now), said, "It looks like the regional board is against democracy and in favour of global warming. I don't think that is a wise position to be in."

©The Powell River Peak 2007

Texada group demands referendum

Laura Walz, Editor
Powell River Peak
09/20/2007

Liquefied natural gas plant should be islanders' choice, according to meeting moderator

Members of an old organization that has new life will prepare a referendum question about a proposed liquefied natural gas facility and power plant on Texada Island.

TAN (Texada Action Now) organized a community meeting in the Gillies Bay community hall on Sunday evening, September 16, to gauge residents' reaction to a plan by WestPac LNG for a combined LNG import terminal and natural gas-fired power generation facility at Kiddie Point, known locally as Coho Point, located at the north end of the island.

TAN was active in the 1980s on various island issues, including a proposal by Genstar Conservation Systems Ltd. to landfill Lower Mainland garbage on Texada.

Chuck Childress, a former chairman of the Powell River Regional District board and director representing Texada for two terms, moderated the meeting. He told the approximately 150 people who packed the hall that he believes WestPac's proposal is a Texada-to-decide issue. "This issue ultimately should be decided by a binding referendum by people on Texada Island," he said. "It is, in a sense, our island, and I do think we should have a say in what happens to it."

People brought up a number of issues and concerns with the WestPac proposal, which ranged from its environmental impact to security, safety and whether there were lasting benefits to the island. People also raised concerns about the impact a new transmission line would have on property values and health.

Under WestPac's proposal, LNG would be imported in supertankers from Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The tankers, described as large as three football fields, would travel a route around the south end of Vancouver Island and dock at Texada approximately every 10 days. Some of the LNG would be pumped into the Terasen gas pipeline that runs across the island and the rest would be used to run the hydroelectric plant. The transmission line would connect the generation plant to the Cheekye-Dunsmuir line that crosses Texada.

Childress noted that, using conservative data, the generation facility would emit greenhouse gases equivalent to 41 Catalyst paper mills. He said a similar-sized plant in Sarnia, Ontario, emits greenhouse gases equivalent to 50 pulp and paper mills.

Childress also said he believes the proposal does not comply with some sections of Texada's OCP (Official Community Plan). He believes, he said, that the regional district has the power to bring in a zoning bylaw that would prohibit the facility from being built.

"In my view, the regional district could stop this process right now by bringing in zoning that does not permit this use," he said.

Dave Murphy, the Texada director on the regional board, said at the meeting that since the WestPac announcement, he has been receiving from six to 10 emails and phone calls a day about the issue. "If you deem this is an issue that you don't want, I will stand up and fight for that with my last drop of blood," Murphy said. "But there are quite a few on Texada who would like to see the LNG facility. There is also a large group sitting on the fence."

If the project was relocated further south on the island, not in sight, more people would support it, Murphy said. He added that he needed people to send him emails and letters, with signatures, that he can bring to the other directors on the regional board.

However, Childress said that people needed to be able to vote in a secret ballot in a referendum in order to let their view be known, not in emails or letters. Texada needed the regional district to hold the referendum, Childress added, and for the members of the regional district board to say that they would be bound by a referendum. Childress asked: "Will he [Murphy] and the Powell River Regional District help us to have a referendum on this issue?"

Murphy replied he was "not ruling out a referendum. But at this point in time there is not enough information to go ahead with a referendum. We have no formal document for referral."

Childress pointed out that since there was no formal proposal, if a zoning amendment was implemented, it would have a better chance of standing up in court. He added that the regional district should be approached to make a zoning bylaw amendment, then the people of Texada could vote on it.

In the end, the vast majority of people agreed that TAN should prepare a referendum question to bring back to another public meeting.

Interested readers can find more information about WestPac's proposal on its website, www.westpaclng.com. More information is at www.texadalng.com or and TAN is at www.texadalng.ca.

LNG draws island ire

Proponents of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility and power plant faced a roomful of angry, scornful and skeptical Texada Island residents for the first public meeting about the $2 billion project. Audio1, Audio2, Audio3.

Laura Walz
Peak Editor
Powell River Peak
13-Sep-2007

WestPac LNG president Mark Butler ignored heckling, jeering and insults as he worked his way through a presentation about the plan for a combined LNG import terminal and natural gas-fired power generation facility at Kiddie Point, known locally as Coho Point, located at the north end of the island.


STICKHANDLING OPPOSITION: Mark Butler, WestPac LNG president,
handled heckling, jeering and scorn during a two-and-a-half hour
public meeting about a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas
terminal and power plant on the north end of Texada Island.
Click here for the Peak audio

Not one of the more than 120 people who packed the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 hall in Van Anda on Monday, September 10, spoke in favour of the proposal, that would generate more than 300 jobs during three years of construction and create about 80 full-time permanent positions when completed.

Facilities at the site include a marine jetty, onshore LNG storage tanks, a natural gas-fired power generation facility, an interconnection with the existing Terasen natural gas pipeline and a transmission line connecting to the existing Cheekeye-Dunsmuir line which supplies power to Vancouver Island.

If the project passes through a variety of government and other approvals, large tankers would transport LNG from Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, arriving about every 10 days.

The project is not a cookie-cutter project that's being dropped on Texada Island, Butler said. "There are no design steps. There are no site layouts. There is no selection of equipment and plant," he said. "This is a concept. It's a proposal. It's something that we think could work."

Some of the LNG the company brings in would be used to fire the power plant that would produce 600 megawatts and could generate up to 1,200 megawatts in the future. The rest of the LNG would go into the existing gas pipeline operated by Terasen Gas. The power from the plant would tap into the powerline operated by BC Transmission Corporation.

"Texada Island [has] the existing energy infrastructure that is underutilized and that we think can be used in a better way to meet needs in the province of British Columbia," Butler said.

The project, which could be up and running by 2013 at the earliest, would supply a "firm" power supply to help offset the deficit the province now faces and help it meet its energy-efficiency goals.

Chuck Childress, a Texada resident, who at one time was a Powell River Regional District director representing the island, said residents had organized a meeting for the following Sunday, September 16.

"One of things that we're doing at that meeting is we're going to discuss the people of Texada having a referendum on this issue," he said, drawing the loudest and most sustained applause of the night. "Are you willing to abide by the decision as given by the people of Texada in a secret ballot?"

Butler said the company would comply with the governmental process that has been established in Canada, "a democracy of a lot more people than just on Texada Island." He said his company would "listen to the outcome" of a referendum, but the process is governed by the laws of Canada.

Butler remained on his feet for the meeting, which lasted almost two and a half hours, answering questions and deflecting heckling, and at times, rude remarks. People had a wide range of concerns, including: safety risks associated with LNG; what would happen in the event of an earthquake; if the terminal and tankers could become targets of terrorist attacks; the impact the project would have on the environment and global warming; the route of the new transmission line; health concerns related to the magnetic field created by the transmission line; if the gas or power would be exported to the United States; and if the company and the government would listen to the voices of island residents.

Celesa Horvath, WestPac vice-president of corporate responsibility and regulatory affairs, has extensive experience working with companies in the environmental assessment process. She said that many projects are not approved because of public input or concerns around environmental impact. "I can't guarantee what the outcome of the process will be, just that we're going to be in a process and we want to encourage participation in it so that it is a meaningful process and brings out all the information that is required for the decision makers," she said. "Part of that is making sure that your voices are heard in that process."

In the end, a young man held up a sign that read, "Go Home WestPac."

Butler asked him to leave, pointing out this was WestPac's meeting, but people took exception to his request and left.

The community meeting is scheduled for 7 pm on Sunday, September 16 in the Gillies Bay community hall.

More information about WestPac and the project is available on the company's website, www.westpaclng.com.

Mark Butler, president of WestPac LNG, on the company's first public meeting held on Texada Island on Monday, September 10, 2007. Click here for the Peak audio

Mark Butler explains why Texada Island was chosen for this project. Click here for the Peak audio

Chuck Childress, long-time Texada Island resident and former director on the Powell River Regional District board, asks a question about the impact of the proposed LNG plant and power plant. Click here for the Peak audio

©The Powell River Peak 2007

Open House: standing room only - and they won't stand for it

WestPac LNG's first Open House on Texada Island, held Monday, September 10, in Van Anda, was a standing room only affair, and the strongest message of the event was loud opposition to the project.

Even more people came to the second Open House, on Tuesday in Gillies Bay. And again, a resounding opposition to the company's proposed LNG receiving terminal and gas-fired generation project.

Asked point blank if the community decided against it, would the company withdraw the project, the answer was anything but point blank, but seemed to be "no."

Community must benefit

Gwenne Farrell
Vice-President, Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378
Powell River Peak
06-Sep-2007

The Powell River Peak has encouraged both community members and corporate citizens to participate in the public consultation processes surrounding two energy megaprojects currently being planned for the region ["Process vital," August 2].

With a 31-stage dam megaproject on the Toba River system underway, the proposed 650-megawatt plant on Texada Island will require the consent and thoughtful feedback from their communities.

It is a bit of a misnomer, however, to be pumping either of these projects up as economic saviours for either Powell River or Texada. The record shows that private power developments actually result in very few jobs, and virtually all of the construction work will be contracted out to outside mega-firms.

Unfortunately, the power industry is not like the forestry industry, which brought sustainable and well-paying jobs, forest renewal practices, and which involves significant economic benefits for communities.

Hydro projects, like that on the Toba, pay no resource royalties and tiny water rental fees, negating any hope of economic benefits ever reaching the community.

As Texada Island and Powell River consider the impacts of a flotilla of supertankers loaded with imported natural gas, it will be crucial to determine to what extent these megaprojects actually benefit the community economically.

The community also needs to know if these projects are just to produce electricity for the energy-hungry United States, or for the benefit of Texada Island and Powell River.

As this consultation process goes forward, it will also be crucial to weigh the costs and benefits of the 31 dams on the Toba River, and if the cumulative impacts of these private, for-profit power projects actually measure up to the very few jobs and minimal economic infusion they bring to the community.

There is no question that these windfall public power giveaways are of benefit to someone. The question is if that benefit is to the community.

©The Powell River Peak 2007