British Columbia’s provincial government has reaffirmed its commitments to produce the cleanest liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, and to maximize the use of clean power in LNG projects.
Today’s 2014 British Columbia provincial budget also ensures government has the funding it needs to implement the policy framework required to responsibly pursue the LNG opportunity.
“This is encouraging—the government appears to be allocating the necessary resources to do proper policy work and engagement around LNG development,” said Merran Smith, director of Clean Energy Canada.
“It will take a great deal of focused effort to bring our proposed LNG industry from where we are today up to the promised global gold standard for carbon pollution, and we’re pleased to see Victoria taking this challenge seriously.”
Our report, The Cleanest LNG in the World, concluded that, without policy leadership, LNG produced in British Columbia would release more than three times the greenhouse gas emissions of that produced in current world-leading operations.
Tuesday’s budget allocates $29 million to a variety of ministries to deliver programs such as a taskforce to provide overall strategic policy direction and engagement with LNG proponents and other stakeholders, First Nations engagement, consultation and negotiations, and environmental stewardship.
