By t Ian Cobb editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

Jun 10 2008

A mostly West Coast-based volunteer organization is asking the public to keep an open mind and conduct their own research in relation to this evening's anti run-of-river power generation rally in Invermere.

The planned rally, which will feature Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald and noted media pundit and former Socred cabinet minister Rafe Mair, among other speakers, are “likely to repeat a litany of discredited myths. At the same time, they'll probably be avoiding some difficult questions,” stated B.C. Citizens for Green Energy co-spokesperson Gene Vickers.

“The event will be hosted by the most influential groups in the campaign against run-of-river. But we're asking people to listen carefully to what they say and consider other information before making up their minds,” Vickers said in a press release.

The campaign against run-of-river power generation “has emphasized a number of outright myths,” explained Vickers. “For example the 500 rivers myth claims that 500 B.C. rivers are being sold, stolen, given away or otherwise affected,” said Vickers, a former RCMP officer who is now a motivational speaker/auto salesperson.

“We've totally refuted that myth on our Web site, www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html. Yet Rafe Mair, a featured speaker at the June 11 event, has recently inflated the myth to 750 rivers. Some of their other favourite myths are the skyrocketing rates myth, the privatization myth, the American control myth and the myth that we don't need more electricity. We answer all that on our Web site. But they never seem to tire of repeating this nonsense,” he stated.

In addition, the groups' environmental credentials are highly questionable, added Vickers. “The most prominent group has been COPE 378, a BC Hydro union. Last January COPE 378 was campaigning to have the Burrard Thermal plant restored to full capacity. But in the years when the gas-fired plant did run at full capacity, it was one of the region's worst sources of GHGs (green house gases.”

That makes COPE 378 a strange bedfellow for the Wilderness Committee (WC), said Vickers. “The WC works very closely with COPE 378 on campaign events. In fact, the WC says it will support run-of-river if BC Hydro develops it. There's no reason to think BC Hydro could surpass the environmental standards of independent operators. The WC didn't oppose run of river until after the NDP left office, even though about half the independent projects now operating were approved during the NDP era. That shows the WC's opposition is strictly political.”

Vickers also asks who's behind the Save Our Rivers Society.

“Until recently it was entirely anonymous,” he said. “Now, all of a sudden, they can hire a celebrity spokesperson in Rafe Mair.”

As for the participation of NDP MLAs, “that just reinforces the political motivation of this event,” he noted.

“We're asking people to listen carefully to their claims and check out our Web site for more info.

“These groups seem to have lots of money for public events and they get great press. But we believe an important issue is at stake. We have to develop new sources of electricity for future generations and it has to be clean electricity. Independents are best suited to do this, no matter what a BC Hydro union and its allies say.”

According to their Web site, the B.C. Citizens for Green Energy is a volunteer organization comprised of a steering committee of people with backgrounds ranging from multi-media/communications, employment services, investments, real estate, education and marketing.

Joining Mair and Macdonald at this evening's rally at the Invermere Community Hall are Joe Foy, national campaign director of the Wilderness Committee and Wildsight's Dave Quinn. Along with the guest speakers, the evening will feature music by Siofri, fun activities for the kids and food catered by Anne Riches.