Green Technology Forum Makes Island Debut
Andrew A. Duffy
Times Colonist
aduffy@timescolonist.com
It's been a staple in the Vancouver green movement's diet for three years, and this week the GreenTech Exchange makes its Vancouver Island debut with a forum featuring a strong focus on Island-born, green-power generation.
The GreenTech Exchange forum will hold its first Island session — open to the public — at Royal Roads University Thursday evening. It will shine a light on Sea Breeze Power, which has been working on a number of renewable-energy projects on the Island — including the Juan de Fuca transmission cable and the Cape Scott wind farm.
"This is an opportunity to meet with residents of the Island and explain what's going on with these projects and where they are in the development cycle, and perhaps shed some light on how and why these projects will positively affect Vancouver Island's electricity reliability in the future," said Sea Breeze CEO Paul Manson.
Sea Breeze recently sold the 99-megawatt wind farm — expected to be up and running in late 2012 and supplying electricity to the grid by the spring of 2013 — to a partnership made up of Britain's International Power and France's GDF Suez, though it remains involved on the periphery.
The wind farm, located eight kilometres north of Holberg and 35 km west of Port Hardy, would be the first on the Island and the first on B.C.'s coast.
"And we have hope of expanding, through Sea Breeze, the wind fleet on Vancouver Island," said Manson, noting the wind resource in this region is considered one of the most economic in the world.
Manson will also be talking about the company's Juan de Fuca cable project, which would see a bi-directional cable linking the Island with the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.
Manson says the cable, which has received federal approval, could suit B.C.'s needs, be they importing electricity or exporting excess to the U.S.
And while he was quick to point out the two projects are very separate entities, both have potentially "very profound and positive impacts for Vancouver Island."
That's the idea behind the GreenTech Exchange, said Island co-ordinator Tom McDowell.
"The idea is to bring together leaders in the green-tech space, allowing pitches from green-tech entrepreneurs, professionals and investors alike," he said. "It's open to anyone interested in green tech."
McDowell said the time is right to establish the forums on the Island as the region is becoming a showcase of ideas and innovation.
"It's getting more recognition as a demonstration location — solar in Sooke, tidal energy in Campbell River and wind in the north part of the Island," he said. "[GreenTech Exchange] is also a good opportunity for the Island to improve job creation, explore business deals and investment as well."
Thursday night's event, which starts at 5:30 p.m. with networking at Royal Roads' new Innovation Centre, will have attendees from Victoria and the Island and will be webcast to Seattle, Nanaimo and Campbell River.
It's free and open to the public, though people are asked to register at www.greentechexchange.ca.
