B.C. Making Process for Renewable Energy Projects Easier

To secure permits for projects, clean energy companies must typically deal with multiple stakeholders (Natural Resources Ministry, Environmental Assessment Office, etc.). The jurisdictions of these stakeholders often overlap and cause significant delays.

Luckily, B.C. announced that they will be making it easier and quicker for companies to acquire permits for renewable energy projects. This is going to be accomplished by introducing a new legislation that puts renewable energy projects under the authority of the B.C. Energy Regulator.

This regulator, funded by fees charged to industry companies, monitors energy projects in B.C. Established in 1998 to focus on oil, gas, and geothermal, it later expanded to hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol projects. Now, it will apply its prior experience in managing energy projects to support the province’s transition to low-carbon energy. The initial focus is on wind, solar, and electrical transmission line projects.

Instead of dealing with multiple stakeholders, clean energy companies can go directly to the regulator to discuss and obtain permits. Multiple individuals tied to Clean Energy believe that this decision with help B.C. meet its growing demand for electricity. This announcement came in the same week that the province began fast-tracking 18 mining and mineral projects.

In the meantime, individuals should do as much as possible to help deal with the growing demand for electricity and shift to renewable energy. Borrum Energy Solutions provides an opportunity to do just that, we design towers and microgeneration wind turbines that generate clean and reliable electricity, all while lowering diesel or propane costs and dependence on the electrical grid.