VICTORIA — Mark Zacharias, executive director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the energy-related aspects of the B.C. NDP’s platform:
“During his almost two years as premier, David Eby has taken the province’s energy future seriously with a thoughtful approach to planning, affordability, and economy-building.
“Compared to other parties, the NDP’s recent energy strategy has the clearest sense of direction and alignment with our changing reality—both its many opportunities and the planning required to seize them—as the world shifts to clean energy. The party’s election platform maintains this trend and builds on CleanBC, one of North America’s strongest climate plans.
“Led out of the premier’s office, the BC Hydro Taskforce was another important signal that the premier understands that the province’s future economic prosperity is underpinned by an affordable and reliable energy grid and that helping B.C. families transition off of fossil fuels makes life more affordable.
“To that end, the NDP rightly notes in its platform that provincial support for heat pumps constitutes a three-in-one solution for B.C. families: providing necessary cooling as B.C. becomes a hotter province, lowering energy bills through improved efficiency, and shrinking household carbon footprints all at the same time.
“In addition to providing rebates, the platform also commits to bulk purchasing heat pumps—an approach taken by the European Union—to lower costs that can be passed on to consumers. This will also create sustainable jobs for those working in B.C.’s HVAC industry. In fact, a forthcoming Clean Energy Canada report shows that a typical B.C. household transitioning from a natural gas furnace to a heat pump is expected to save $550 per year.
“Like heat pumps, electric vehicles are another—and in fact even bigger—source of potential cost-savings for B.C. families. In many cases, drivers can save around $30,000 over a ten-year ownership period compared to a similar gas car.
“The platform’s commitment to expand public charging for EVs is therefore laudable. Not everyone has access to home charging, and all British Columbian drivers should feel comfortable choosing an electric vehicle as their next car, whether they rent or own, or whether they live in a condo or a house.
“The NDP should, however, consider increasing the income cap on current EV rebates, which presently excludes many working, middle-class families living in high-cost areas like Vancouver and Victoria. B.C., once Canada’s EV adoption leader, has recently fallen behind Quebec, and the implementation of the income cap may help explain why.
“Indeed, the party could centre the affordability opportunities of adopting clean energy even more than they have done to date. In doing so, they must cast a wide net. Incentives, for example, should be designed to generously include the middle class, especially where income alone is used to qualify people.
“While the electricity needs of electrification will be quite modest this decade (BC Hydro projects EVs will represent a 2% increase in electricity demand in 2030), the long-term transition will require smart planning for the decades ahead. Importantly, today’s platform commits to doubling the province’s electricity production by 2050 with new capital investments in BC Hydro guided by a comprehensive energy plan.
“Other moves also shift B.C.’s economy in the right direction, including funding for express buses, exploring commuter rail, and a new clean economy transition fund created through revenue raised from oil and gas development.
“Finally, if B.C. chooses to eliminate its consumer carbon price at a future date, we would emphasize the importance of finalizing the province’s forthcoming oil and gas emissions cap. Under Premier Eby, B.C. has so far avoided subsidizing new LNG and natural gas development, and this too must continue.
“Additionally, it is worth noting that the party has committed itself to maintaining B.C.’s industrial carbon price along with a number of other (less often reported on) climate measures designed to drive down emissions and support the province’s transition to clean energy.
“Climate change isn’t a one-policy problem, after all. And energy plans must be multi-faceted, thoughtfully designed, and robustly implemented. In this regard, the NDP’s approach stands out.
“Clean Energy Canada has also responded to energy plans from the Conservative Party of British Columbia and the Green Party of British Columbia.”
