The Editor,
Re. “Reopen Burrard Thermal?” (Letters, The Tri-City News, Nov. 10).
I have always believed that we should not sell fuels around the world to produce power unless we could have facilities in B.C. or Canada to use as examples with high efficiencies. I also lobbied to keep our refineries in Burnaby to make sure they operated as cleanly as possible. By doing so, we set an example for the world.
If we sell coal, we should also have a plant that burns coal to set an example and add power to our grid. Southeastern B.C. has the best spots on Earth for such facilities. Some use should only be in our winter months.
LNG for Texada Island. Burrard Thermal gas-powered for Port Moody for back-up. With all our natural gas and how eager the corporate world is to fill up ships for other countries, natural gas is a big question that needs a big plan.
Just allowing private companies to set up piece by piece is poor planning. We need a big picture.
My views have been voiced, now I try again.
Leave Burrard Thermal running short-term. Look for new sites that can create far more power. Build one or more natural gas power generation plants, maybe at a site like Woodfibre LNG, then scrap Burrard Thermal.
Then for standby power, build coal-powered plants right beside the coal.
After these are accomplished, then offer the world power plant specs and fuels.
LNG needs to be kept on a short leash so its profits don’t become our monthly bills.
We have had such poor government for 20 years. This is proven by so many poorly planned things in our province. And power production.
I have begun putting ideas out for consideration after almost 15 years of quiet. I knew for years I was wasting my time. I feel a little optimistic again.
Steve Mancinelli, Coquitlam
