BC Signs MOU with Clean Energy Association

The BC government and BC Hydro have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia that supports continued collaboration on delivering clean, reliable and affordable electricity.

The independent power sector provides a significant and growing amount of British Columbia’s energy needs through more than 100 electricity purchase agreements across a wide range of resource types including hydro, biomass, wind, natural gas and solar.

Projects in the independent power sector currently generate about 25% of BC’s electricity. Investments in independent power projects are spread throughout the province and create jobs, often in remote areas including many in First Nations communities.

The MOU will facilitate collaboration on key issues to strengthen British Columbia’s competitive advantage of reliable and affordable clean electricity and support continued investment and growth in the independent power sector, and includes commitments from the parties to
•    explore opportunities with First Nations that will support the development and stewardship of British Columbia’s clean energy resources.
•    improve procurement practices for acquiring power from clean energy projects.
•    engage together transparently on BC Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan review and policy for electricity purchase agreement renewals.
•    meet at least quarterly and participate in an ongoing series of workshops to review innovative and emerging technologies in renewable energy.
The MOU will remain in effect until December 31, 2017.

“At this moment,” says Paul Kariya, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Association of BC, “clean energy companies are responsibly, reliably, and affordably keeping the lights on in 1.5 million homes throughout the province and bringing billions of investment into the economy – the result of a longstanding relationship between our sector, the province, and BC Hydro. This agreement opens up clear channels of communication so that we can continue to deliver clean power to British Columbians, while providing more certainty for investors and our member clean power companies.”