5 February 2010

Rail-Tie Funding Not a Done Deal, Says Minister

Kamloops British Columbia - The province has yet to sign off on a $1.7-million contribution to a proposed railway tie gasification project, the minister responsible for the funding said Thursday.
 
And the B.C. Liberal government will not sign a cheque through the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) fund unless the proponent has met all its requirements, including adequate community consultation, said Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology, and Economic Development.
 
Black met late Wednesday with city MLAs Terry Lake and Kevin Krueger, who reported growing opposition to a proposed gasifier at Mission Flats intended to convert creosote-treated railway ties to energy.
 
While the project has environmental approvals in place and a clean bill of health from Interior Health Authority, opponents are demanding an end of the project.
 
"I'm not calling into question the science. It's not new technology," Black said, touting the ability of the ICE fund to kickstart clean energy projects that can create jobs in B.C.
 
Funding is recommended by a panel of ministry officials and outside academics. Black is not on that panel.
 
Black said his role is to oversee the process. He wants to ensure a requirement for community consultation is met. He has directed staff to have a "second look" to ensure all necessary steps have been taken.
 
"There is no final agreement in place with this group," he cautioned.
 
Lake said the project is suffering from misinformation and a lack of communication from Aboriginal Cogeneration Corp.
 
"If you answer questions up front it helps people know what's going on. (Now) there's a cloak of fear and misinformation."
 
Lake said after speaking with the Minister of Environment and staff, he wonders whether the project can even operate because restrictions are so tough.
 
Black said in Prince George a $3.5-million ICE investment in a gasification plant resulted in millions in private funding and creation of 151 jobs. But he stressed the province is not "dictating" the project to Kamloops.
 
He said the City of Kamloops has the ability to say no by not granting a building permit or business licence.
 
"They have that say."
 
Cam Fortems.