Last week China reiterated its commitment to renewable energy, particularly hydropower. The Asian nation plans to triple its hydropower production to 300,000 megawatts by 2020.

Chinese officials also asked the world to cut them some slack in their efforts to cut global warming pollution.

China’s contribution to global warming has been relatively small compared to the more developed Western nations, they argue, and they shouldn’t be held overly accountable. According to Chen Deming of the National Development and Reform Commission, "I hope the international media will give us some development rights, some development space and not overly blame us."

Wind power and biofuels, in addition to big hydro, will help China reach its goal of producing 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. But it’s the hydropower expansion that is raising the eyebrows of some who are concerned about the large dams’ environmental impact.

Chen Deming argued that cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to global warming is more important than any negative environmental impact of huge hydropower. Other groups like Greenpeace argue that the damage caused by large dams – like the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River — could have more consequences than conventional power plants because of the massive amount of CO2 released when trees and plant life are destroyed.

AFX News, via Forbes
Associated Press, via DelawareOnline

Image: China’s Three Gorges Dam

Canada’s province of British Columbia could be energy independent within 18 years and do it without relying on any domestic fossil fuels use.

A report from the GLOBE Foundation examined the feasibility of making Canada’s most western province completely energy self-sufficient. Dubbed “The Endless Energy Project,” it determined that not only can British Columbia (BC) be energy independent, but that it could be done "without undo social or economic hardship" and bring0 global warming emissions down to below the levels they were at in the year 2000. From the Executive Summary:

“The Endless Energy project has evaluated the rising price of conventional energy, energy security concerns, the threat of climate change and many other trends and combined them to show that moving from 40 percent renewable supply in year 2000 to 100 percent renewable supply in 2025 is not only possible, but entirely reasonable and desirable.

Importantly, the scenario described implies little disruption in way people live and the way businesses operate. However, it does imply a major expansion in economic growth as a result of: increased energy and technology exports, major investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and replacement of petroleum imports with indigenous bio-fuels and electricity.”

BC would need to develop its renewable energy sources on a massive scale, with hydropower being the backbone of the energy supply. Wind, solar, geothermal, and other sources would also be ramped up. Small scale renewable energy – such as solar systems on individual buildings – could provide up to 14 percent of the total energy needs of homes and businesses. The report also recommended that BC’s urban and rural areas explore district energy systems, in which a group of buildings or a small community gets is electricity and heat from a central source.

This could provide a helpful model for other provines in Canada who want to follow suit and to the States. However, hydropower has had its share of environmental justice problems in Canada, notably in Manitoba and Quebec. If BC does expand its hydropower, I hope it does so in respectful collaboration with the First Nations there.

The Endless Energy Project full report
Renewable Energy Access

More Quebecers will be getting their power from hydroelectric dams, thanks to a $4.2 billion USD project begun by the province. The four dams and 72 dikes will add 883 MW of electricity by 2010, enough to power 425,000 homes.

The Quebec-owned utility, Hydro-Quebec, will be the producer and distributor of the hydropower. The utility is the fourth-largest power producer in the world, generating and distributing most of the province’s electricity as well as exporting it to the Northeastern U.S. States.

The massive undertaking is being billed as energy security for Quebec and an important economic development project. Indeed, it is expected to take around 4,000 people to build the dams. But is it really “green” power?

Some Indian communities like the Cree and Inuit oppose the dam, and have fought the province before on hydro projects on their lands. The anticipated jobs and economic development are attractive to many in this poor, remote location. But the dams will also have massive environmental impact on their lands, including possible flooding of hunting areas and sacred burial sites.

It’s no wonder they are wary; the Cree in Manitoba have been fighting the provincially owned Manitoba Hydro for years seeking reparations for the destruction of their lands and culture due to large hydropower dams. When the Manitoba Hydro project began in the 1970s, the Cree were made promises of economic development and prosperity that have no where near been realized. The hydropower is even being billed as “green” power in some places in the Upper Midwest where it is sold, despite the environmental devastation it’s caused. The Hydro-Quebec project has also been deemed “green” by the Quebec Environment Minister Claude Bechard.

Environmental News Network
Fresh Energy
East Grand Forks Water and Light