German Chancelor Angela Merkel laid down the gauntlet recently by stating clearly and emphatically that job creation from developments and investment in technology- particularly new era automobile technology, are going to help Germany lead the EU out of the global recession. Wunderbar, but Germany has been a technology leader and particularly a greentech leader for years already. Unlike Canada, the European nations were quickly put in positions where they knew that traditional energy and industrial resources like oil and gas couldn’t power the European economy for very long. They were running out of useable land to develop, and many of them- like Germany, would have to import energy from countries like Russia; giving it a lot of leverage over the EU. A few decades ago the countries of Europe began to invest in and develop renewable energy sectors like wind and solar. Today they help to reduce Germany’s and other EU country’s dependence on imported energy. Imagine that…What’s interesting is the United States has become the fastest and largest renewable energy market in the world; driven by geothermal, solar and wind. In fact renewables represented more than 50% of total added power capacity in both the United States and Europe over the past year. Studies have shown however, that Canada has been lagging behind both Europe, the U.S. and the developing world when it comes to responsible use of our energy and resouces. We’ve seen companies develop wind and solar here in the country but with less zeal than our cousins accross the water and to the south. We’re spoiled with all this land, all these resources, and a false belief that we also have just as much time to use them as we like.

But a new cross atlantic venture being launched by Toronto-based Solar Income Fund Inc. plans on getting Canadian investors more involved in greentech by investing in the stable German solar industry- the fund will also be investing in solar power in Ontario. This is great, but still a drop in the bucket when we look at Canada’s energy investment trends as a whole. Even in British Columbia, hailed as en eco-haven for forward thinkers, our government’s plan for renewable energy and environmental protection has been withering from lack of leadership. Unlike Merkel, who emphatically sees greentech and innovation as the path to economic strength and job creation our provincial government has seen it more as a political necessity, a bone to throw at voters and while we gnaw it, the Campbell government is looking to invest in BCs first new coal mine since the 1980s. While Merkel thinks of the future, Campbell thinks of the 1980s. In fact, in an effort to completely eliminate any need to develop any coal or nuclear power in the future, a new initiative to lease micro-power plants to German households is gaining momentum in the country. Installing the mini gas-fired power plants in people’s basements will produce as much electricity as two nuclear reactors within a year, and any surplus energy not used by the consumer can be sold back to the government for a rebate. Producing energy on site is both more efficient as less is lost in transport, and it also encourages users to conserve- as surplus can be sold back for rebates. This makes energy more affordable for everyone in the long run, including industry and large employers who are looking to decrease costs.

Why or how the BC government is so unable to see greentech in the same light as the Germans and other EU countries is troubling. We are spoiled, with rivers, mineral rich mountains, even offshore oil that has yet to be tapped. So, unlike the Germans we don’t have to focus on innovation and technology to serve our needs. Our next-door neighbour has billions of barrels of oil and natural gas, and we act like the future will be like the present- it will always be there and we will continue to have everything we need at hand. While the Europeans are building sustainable eco cities with the newest technologies and planning we’ve been subsidizing dirty energy producers and looking to build coal mines, like it’s the 1800s again. BC can and should be just as technologically industrious as Germany. We can create job growth in similar manners and focus on creating surpluses of energy from renewables instead of tapping every other non renewable source dry. The US, China, the countires of Europe even the developing world all see the need to invest in greentech to create jobs, and to supply energy to our grid. Unlike them and unlike Germany though, we seem to believe that we don’t have to; there is no imperative. So will we have to wait until it’s too late? Or will someone in Victoria please start looking to the future, like Merkel. Instead of the past, like Campbell.

Related posts:

1. The US Stimulus package, Nortel, and Canadian long term economic strategy (an oxymoron)
2. Canada to become an unrivaled technology hub
3. BC a cleantech leader? After Alberta and China maybe

Tags: BC, BC Coal mine, British Columbia, Canada, developments and investment in technology, Germany, Greentech, Merkel, Micro-power plants, renewable energy market, Russia, sustainable eco-cities, Technology, United States

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