The Energy Solutions for Vancouver Island Society has some ideas about what needs to be done to ensure the Island has enough electrical power in the future.

“On Vancouver Island we have very specific challenges to deal with our energy,” said Ludo Bertsch, the society’s spokesperson and a Victoria resident.

The main challenge stems from the fact that there isn’t much power actually generated on the Island, he said. In fact, about 70 per cent of the Island’s power comes from the mainland through underwater cables.

Bertsch represents the society as an intervener at the recent public hearings conducted by the BC Utilities Commission. The hearings, which ran from November until earlier this month, focused on BC Hydro’s long-term plans.

Bertsch is concerned with what will be done to ensure Vancouver Island has enough energy in the long term.

“They’re listening to some degree but they’re limited to what they can do,” he said.

Bertsch argues that the main reason that potential solutions to provide the Island with enough energy aren’t being given serious consideration is because the BC Transmission Corporation has been separated from BC Hydro. For instance, he said if he approaches BC Hydro about a solution to improve the Island’s energy supply he’ll invariably be told to discuss the matter with the BCTC, which provides the power through cables.

“It’s very difficult because you have two different organizations to work with to try to find a solution,” Bertsch said.

Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld doesn’t think the BC Liberal government’s decision to separate BCTC from BC Hydro poses any problems in terms of either considering or adopting new energy solutions for the Island or anywhere in British Columbia.

“I don’t think that should be an impediment at all,” he said.

Approaching BC Hydro or BCTC isn’t the only way for the Vancouver Island society to present solutions on the issue, he said.

“If they’re having trouble getting through to either (BC Hydro or BCTC) with a good suggestion, I’d suggest they send it to me.”

One solution aimed at improving the Island’s energy supply that Bertsch favours is peak shifting, which involves hydro users being financially rewarded for using less power when the demand is high.

“So what we really need is a place, a forum, to talk about this,” he said. “There’s no real place to do that at this point.”

However, Neufeld said that BC Hydro has been exploring peak shifting with about 2,000 residents across B.C.

“They started that process I think in early November – and it’s voluntary – to try and get people to understand that it would be better if they used energy off peak,” he said. “It’s an educational process for the public who actually consume the electricity. I think (BC) Hydro is well on its way to try and get that idea through to people.”

The society is also pushing for wind power as an alternative energy source for the Island.

But wind power developers are reluctant to implement that form of energy generation without adequate transmission from the north end of the Island to the south, Bertsch pointed out. At the same time, he said the BCTC doesn’t want to supply transmission lines for wind generation as it doesn’t yet exist.

Wind power, Neufeld said, does have its advantages and will be used along with other energy sources in the future in British Columbia. Energy purchase agreements between wind energy developers have been signed with BC Hydro, he pointed out.

“Is it the be all end all? No, it’s not,” Neufeld said.

On average, it’s only windy enough to generate power about 35 per cent of the time, he said.

The idea of using wind power also attracts opposition from some segments of the public, Neufeld said. Some people simply don’t like looking at huge wind power generators, he said.

Still, wind is one way to generate intermittent power, which is why it’s part of BC Hydro’s plans for the future.

“Wind power will be part of the mix,” Neufeld said.

mbrowne@vicnews.com