Pinecone Burke and Upper Pitt Valley saved!
from the Wilderness Committee
Subject: Pinecone Burke and Upper Pitt Valley saved!
Today at noon live on Global TV, Barry Penner, the Minister of the Environment, announced that he will not support a transmission line going through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. This decision effectively kills the private power project in the Upper Pitt.
This is a huge victory for the parks system, for the Upper Pitt River Valley, and for public power in British Columbia. He listened to the voices of the people of BC and made the right decision.
This decision would not have been made without your actions. All of you who wrote letters, sent emails and attended the public hearings made this happen. We’ve stopped a project that everyone called a “done deal.”
In the future, we’re going to have more battles and more victories, and we’re so happy to know that all of you will be there with us. But that’s for the later. Today is a day for all of us to celebrate. Great work everyone, and thanks!
If you’re in Vancouver, we’ll be celebrating at the Black Frog starting at 4 pm this afternoon. Come on out and have some fun!
UPDATE from CBC BC News March 27
not so fast–the company can re-apply and tweak it—–I have no faith in this liberal bunch——————-a stall ,another election,a change of mind? right “delta ” whats a few powerlines! what about the alcan (over rule ) at the bc utility commision —it just took an extra year- I am not complaining,i`m thrilled -but I understand it was overturned because of power lines through parks, not for loss of species( mainly salmon ) which leaves open the door for a diffrent delivery system( re-route the lines) I would have like to have seen a broad-based denial, that takes fish n wildlife in to account!
grant g
March 26, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Sorry Grant I do not see how you can have run of the river power plants in this area that are not connected to the grid somehow. And this announcement says no transmission lines in the park. Is there another way to move electricity around that is not a transmission line?
Stephen Rees
March 26, 2008 at 2:55 pm
It’s pretty much a dead project. The other power line option the company identified still goes through Pinecone Burke, and I haven’t heard of a third option (well, going under Burke Mountain was mentioned, but that would still go through the park). And this past afternoon Barry Penner basically did everything but say “Go away.” I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone how amazing that is coming from this government.
Andrew
March 27, 2008 at 12:08 am
Great work you folks.
Next battle?
Pacific Spirit Park!
Details on what needs to be done immediately at my place.
Sorry to shill, but this is important and time sensitive.
.
RossK
March 27, 2008 at 10:00 am