I’ve been asked to address UBC’s ENVR 200 class on run of river energy in BC tomorrow.
To say that this is a heated topic in BC would be the understatement of the newly minted 10s. Run of river, or small hydro, is but one solution in the renewable energy basket, and yet it is an ideological flashpoint for debate on green energy in this province.
I’m interested in hearing what you have to think about run of river energy projects. Do you think that they are a necessary solution in the fight against climate change, a green energy hoax, or are you not sure? Leave your comments below – I will be writing more about this as my blog grows. I will also update you on what the class thinks, after tomorrow’s lecture.
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I wish I was at your lecture tomorrow. These are my questions:
1. What are the environmental impacts of run of the river?
2. How does ‘run of the river’ fit into broader energy planning for BC? What are the energy needs of the current population and projected population growths?
3. To what extent can demand-side management, technologies and renovations help meet BC’s energy needs?
4. Many of BC’s rural economies are boom and bust and reliant on resource extraction. To what extent can ‘run of the river’ projects diversify and stabilize some of our rural economies? What policies have been put in place to make sure that the economic benefits of run of the river projects remain in BC?