David Elstone

Past calls for power by the BC government drove the expansion of energy production by the private sector (IPPs). Many projects including pulp mill power, run-of-river and biomass projects were built over the last two decades to sell power to BC Hydro. However, a strong lobby campaign against IPPs led to dramatic policy change… and as a consequence, the government ended its standing call for power in 2020. This all occurred despite awareness of growing energy demand, and the province did not have enough capacity. . …Now with the goals to electrify the province and net zero emissions for LNG, the government has once again turned to IPPs for solutions. How does this shift in energy policy serve as a comment about forestry? 

Forest product markets may be tough now, but according to the UN FAO’s forest sector outlook to 2050, consumption of lumber, panels, and pulp will increase by 37% beyond 2020. …Unfortunately, just like the misguided end to the calls for power back in 2020… the Old Growth Strategic Review has brought about new and pending policy that will reduce our ability to manage forests for our needs. We should be expanding active forest management which would address our very Canadian reality that harvesting (and thinning) actually helps protect forests (and our communities) by reducing wildfire intensity as well as carbon emissions from forest fires. …It took three years for government to come to its senses on energy. How long will it take the government to do the same on forestry?