DARYN CAISTER: British Columbia seems to be green with envy of the billions in renewable energy investments flowing into Ontario due to its Green Energy Act announcing this week it was considering changes to its own provincial investment incentives.

While not as strong as Ontario’s controversial feed-in tariff program the province is looking to raise investment in BC particularly among the research and development with a proposed hike to emerging renewable technology incentives. While the province is looking at its own FIT style program this fall, the higher pay rates for feed in pricing will only apply to new technologies, leaving solar and wind power, a major component of Ontario’s program out to dry.

BC Energy Minister Bill Bennett however denied that the province was being timid about the incentive program, stating rather that his government was “going to be more selective, not just throw as much as we can at the wall and see what sticks”. This new program if it proceeds’ will compliment BC’s existing standard offer program which BC Hydro offers to purchase energy produced from small energy projects at fixed rates under long term contracts. [ index ]

MARTIN WALDMAN: The National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society has released a study summarizing the expected impacts of climate change in Canada in the coming century. Citing various research programs, the study highlights both the good and bad effects of a climate increasing its temperature by 2 degrees or more. In B.C. the warmer temperatures will increase forest fires, but allow more northern spruce to fill the niche of the burnt timber, ultimately driving timber prices down. In the prairies the risk of desertification increases 50%, but a warmer climate will increase growing seasons and therefore crop production. Toronto and Montreal will face increases in the urban heat island effect due to absorption of the heat in the asphalt, but a warmer winter will require less heating costs overall. Finally, the maritime provinces are at risk of increasing sea level in a warmer climate, possibly flooding parts of Nova Scotia, but a warmer climate may create an Atlantic cod boom, jump starting the fishing industry. The study warns that we should not abandon the mitigation of climate change because there are possible benefits, but we should be aware of opportunities as the climate continues to warm. [ index ]

DARYN CAISTER: In more green energy news, Enbridge announced the opening of an expansion to its solar energy farm in Sarnia, Ontario making it the largest photovoltaic solar farm in the world.

The farm has an optimum output of 80 megawatts which is roughly enough to power 12,000 homes. The farm was originally a project owned and operated by First Solar Inc., but was bought out when the farm was just 20 megawatt facility. The new facility is meant to be a flagship for what Enbridge says is its new push to get serious about developing alternative energy. At the opening, Vice President of Enbridge Al Monaco said that green energy investments were becoming an increasingly important part of Enbridge’s business model.

The former First Solar project in Sarnia is one of four solar projects that were announced last year that are either in development or are already in production. Enbridge is Canada’s largest natural gas distributor and a major North American oil pipeline operator. Enbridge reports that its current renewable energy portfolio includes geothermal, solar wind and garbage heat recovery totalling more than 850 megawatts in total. [ index ]

MARTIN WALDMAN: Energy Minister Brad Duguid has announced that four more Ontario coal-fire generators will be shut down as part of a plan to phase out all coal-fired plants by the year 2014. The shut down of the four units, two at the Nanticoke plant and two more at Lambton plant, is equivalent to removing two million cars from the road. Duguid heralds the order as ‘a huge step’ and will set Ontario apart in North America. The pollution generated by the coal plants may have been partially responsible for lung cancers being found in children in the area. By shutting these generators down, the health care system will save $3 billion a year in Ontario. Shutting down the generators will result in the loss of 200 jobs. By 2014, 19 coal burning generators will be shut down and will be considered the largest greenhouse reduction project in North America. [ index ]

PAIGE LANCASTER: Canadian and US scientists will receive funding to assess the threat of Asian Carp in the Great Lakes. 4 hundred and 15 thousand dollars has been announced by the Fisheries Minister, GAIL SHEA, for an 18 month bi-national study to determine the risk of the carp.

The Asian Carp pose a serious threat as they damage the ecosystem by decreasing other fish populations and destroy fisheries, which are worth an estimated 7 billion dollars a year.

The scientists’ research will include possible points of entry for the carp into the Great Lakes and how to shut down those pathways. The scientists will also try to predict when the invasion could occur and future population size. The Asian Carp was introduced in US fish farms in the 70’s to stop the spread of algae but escaped in the 90’s during flooding. A single carp was found in June, beyond the electric barriers ERRECTED to keep the invasive species out of the Great Lakes. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: A waste reservoir at an alumina plant in Hungary burst open Monday, causing a wall of toxic sludge to inundate a nearby town. The reservoir contained toxic by-products from alumina production. When it burst, it sent over 1 million cubic metres of waste into the town of Kolontar causing a flood up to 2 meters deep in some places. Four people drowned in the toxic mud, and around 100 others were injured. Injuries included chemical burns from the heavily alkaline waste. The waste washed into the Marcal river, killing all life in the waterway. Officials confirmed on Thursday that the toxic waste has now flown down the Marcal into the Danube, one of Europe’s largest and most important rivers. This has raised fears in the communities downstream of the spill that they too will suffer the pollution from the disaster. Though crews are working desperately to clean up, Hungary’s environment minister said Wednesday that it could take up to a year to fully clean the spill. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: The U.S. military intends to lower its dependence on fossil fuels for its operations, hoping to shift to renewable energy sources where possible. The consequences of the army’s reliance on fossil fuels have been highlighted in the last few weeks after a series of attacks by Pakistani militants on NATO fuel convoys. In the latest attack, militants set fire to 26 NATO oil tankers attempting to ship fuel to allied troops in neighbouring Afghanistan. This has the U.S. military seeing fossil fuel dependence as a liability. It is now currently expanding the use of renewable energy sources. A Marine Company currently deployed in Afghanistan has been testing the use of portable solar generators to power their encampments. While federal and state governments in the U.S. have largely shelved investment in renewables due to the economic recession, the military’s new focus on green energy technologies could help foster new innovation. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is introducing new rules on how products can be marketed as environmentally-friendly. With public awareness about environmental issues growing, companies have learned to cash in by marketing to consumers willing to pay for green or eco-friendly products. This has also led to a growth in frivolous and unsubstantiated claims on product labels. The new rules will force companies to justify their products green-credentials and not make over-generalized claims. Under the new guidelines, products will have to explain their environmental benefits on the packaging. These are the first changes to the rules governing eco-marketing in the U.S. since 1998, and should help eco-conscious consumers make informed decisions. [ index ]