Canadian premiers air energy grid; greenhouse gas curbs asked

Aug 9, 2007 - Chris Morris - Canadian Press (AP)

MONCTON, New Brunswick --Canada's premiers are encouraging the concept of a national transmission grid to make sure Canadians benefit fully from the country's energy resources.

Although the premiers fell short of a firm commitment to an east-west energy grid at their annual conference Thursday, they are supporting the development and enhancement of transmission facilities across the country.

"Our priority as Canadians is, first of all, that the power is used domestically," said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams during a break in the premier's daylong deliberations. "We want to make sure that power is used for Canadians and that obviously it is reasonably priced and properly delivered."

A network of 60 environmental groups comprising Canada's Climate Action Network drew attention to global warming as they urged the premiers to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to overcome what they see as federal inaction on climate change.

Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation said regulation, such as a cap-and-trade program for emissions, is essential to make progress.

Some Canadian environmentalists say New England is setting the pace for change with its regional cap-and-trade program, in which participants set a percentage-based emissions cap that they must meet together. Those who produce emissions below the cap may sell their "excess" emissions to others who produce more than the cap allows.

New Brunswick's neighboring state, Maine, formally joined the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative through legislation signed into law in June by Gov. John Baldacci.

At Thursday's conference, Newfoundland's Williams released a report prepared for the premiers on energy supply and demand in Canada, including a detailed series of maps on the amount of resources in each province and transmission facilities. Williams said he's anxious to sell power from the Lower Churchill Falls hydro development, scheduled to begin production in 2015.

The Newfoundland premier said he hopes the huge, 2,800-megawatt development will provide clean power to Ontario and the Maritime Provinces, over new transmission lines. He said transmission facilities could be built either by private industry, or by the federal and provincial governments.

However, Premier Jean Charest said that Quebec must be able to maintain jurisdiction over its own energy supplies and transmission facilities, without interference from Ottawa.

"An east-west grid interests us," Charest said, adding that Quebec wants to profit from its huge supplies of clean hydro and wind power. "But it will happen in respect of our jurisdictions. If anyone suggests that we run a line paid by the federal government in Quebec, that's not going to happen."

Charest said Quebec is already building a transmission line to Ontario.

The lack of transmission facilities often hinders the development of new power projects in Canada.

Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario are the most vocal proponents of an east-west transmission system. Manitoba and Newfoundland want the grid because of the potential to develop additional exports of cheap hydro power. Ontario sees the grid as an answer to its growing power needs.

Williams also hinted at developing a transmission system from Labrador to Newfoundland and on to the Maritimes.

"We would like to have a link down through the island (of Newfoundland) and over to the Maritimes," he said. Williams said the energy report also calls for more work between the provinces and Ottawa to streamline the environmental assessment process and eliminate overlap.

He said the Lower Churchill development could be delayed by two or three years if the environmental assessment involves a lot of duplication by Ottawa. © Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.