Quote:
Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois
shuttering coal and de facto agreeing to buy B.C. hydro
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This isn't actually at all accurate.
Without anything else, all the coal-phase out would have done was change the resource from coal to natural gas. The 30 by 30 increased renewables. (But do note that B.C. exports natural gas to Alberta, so coal-phase out was still arguably beneficial to it).
The quid pro quo for Site C import didn't really materialize at all as part of the coal-phase out. In any case, the maximum capacity between the two provinces is 780 MW, which is already being "used." So without a heavy increase in the intertie, which was not going to be supported without the pipelines (I would hope), it's not like they really could 'buy' B.C. at any noticeable change. And the increase capacity for the intertie had long been contemplated before NDP even got in power or the coal-phase out was announced.
Because of B.C.'s electricity market, Notley's threat to restrict imports from B.C. was actually laughable, it's such a tiny difference. I mean in 2016, Alberta actually exported more electricity to B.C. then it imported. The bigger threat would be if Alberta restricted exporting electricity to B.C. B.C. has been a net importer more often than not, and relies on Alberta's import for low electricity during times of high demand. Cutting that off would actually have an impact on B.C. residents electricity bills.