Re: Invitation at the end of the meeting held August 21, 2013 to submit our points to the Climate Change Action Plan, I’m restating and adding the following for consideration:
1. We believe one of the most effective approaches to climate change action would be a policy and programme to increase the energy efficiency performance of all homes and commercial buildings. In addition, research shows that investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy will create far more good quality and long lasting jobs than continued investment in and reliance on non-renewable greenhouse gas emitting energy. All new public buildings must be constructed to the Silver LEED certification standard as required by the Province’s Green Building Policy for New Construction and Major Renovation Projects. In addition, high R value insulation and Energy Star rated windows and doors in all new home construction must be required. Switching to renewable energy sources, instead of planning on shale gas development, will put New Brunswick on a solid footing that will produce lasting jobs while mitigating climate change. All hydrocarbon fuels contribute to climate change and must be eliminated from the energy pool as soon as possible. This includes shale gas that must, therefore, be rejected by New Brunswick. Research now clearly shows that 80% of the remaining hydrocarbon deposits must be left in the ground in order to prevent a level of climate change that would be catastrophic for human civilization worldwide.
2. The newly formed Energy Institute needs to be integrated with the Climate Change Action Plan. The Energy Institute, to be credible, must be look beyond hydrocarbons. From both a business and climate change perspective, the Energy Institute should see its role as providing guidance for the future on how to use as little hydrocarbon fuel as possible in the quick transition to renewable energy technology.
A timeline for achieving majority renewable energy sources and phasing out reliance on all fossil fuels must be set.
The role of government in regulating and enforcement must include the monitoring of the existing shale gas wells on a regular basis and the release of data to the public.
We oppose Dr. LaPierre’s recommendation that the Environmental Trust Fund provide funding to the Energy Institute. This is contrary to the fund’s stated intent. It may be possible for the ETF to fund work that the EI is carrying out if it meets the ETF criteria.
3. Forest harvesting practices on crown (and private) lands needs to be raised to mostly mature forests of 60 years minimum for hardwoods and ? years for softwoods. This will optimize CO2 sequestering, protect the ecosystem, reduce erosion, and improve groundwater retention. It will also make the province more attractive to investors and immigrants. This will improve the value of forestland over time as older wood is better for lumber, furniture making and other value added products. Select cutting of trees will make forests permanent and much better habitat for the full biodiversity of animal and plant life.
4. Public transportation development, and incentives for using public transportation is are needed to reduce transportation GHG emissions. Lowering the highway speed limit will also help reduce GHG. Certain highway should be tolled and the revenue used to achieve climate change action goals. In addition to voluntary reduction of automobile use made possible by more accessible public transport, car-pooling, more energy efficient cars, reducing unnecessary trips, and using other modes for short distances such as walking, bicycling, scooting should be encouraged and supported by government. A carbon tax should be introduced at a modest level and gradually increased. Experience in British Columbia shows this can be done without hurting the economy. Front license plates could be eliminated thus reducing government expense and improving vehicle mileage. Other provinces have made this change.
5. Smart metering program with incentives from NB Power to increase local renewable energy sources that allow residential, commercial, and community co-op decentralized distributed generation and a feed-in tariff system.
6. Establish Energy Financing Districts. Energy Financing Districts enable governments (either local or provincial) to raise money through the issuance of bonds (or other methods) to fund on-site renewable energy installations. The financing is repaid over a set number of years through an extra “assessment” on the property tax bill of only those property owners who chose to participate in the program by installing energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable electricity generation to their facilities.
The financing is secured by the property, and, like taxes, is paid before other claims against the property in the case of foreclosure. There is little or no up-front cost to the property owner. If the property is sold before the end of the repayment period, the new owner inherits both the repayment obligation and the financed improvements.
An Energy Financing District program in New Brunswick would promote environmentally friendly efficiency improvement and on-site generation projects with little or no upfront costs to home or business owners. The Province would only bear the cost of administering the program and not be responsible for any of the capital or operating cost for the on-site generation of power. Also, the payback obligations would transfer with the property when the property is sold, encouraging the implementation of projects where the payback period is longer than the anticipated ownership of the property.
EFD’s energy efficiency retrofitting and for renewable energy installations would help to reduce CO2 levels, and therefore contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
Thank you,
Sam Arnold
November 2013