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DAM-L Hydro 'PR' man in Free Press, July 25 (fwd)
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To: William_J_Braun@mennonitecc.ca
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Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 13:12:26 -0500
Subject: Hydro 'PR' man in Free Press, July 25
Content-Disposition: inline
To: William J Braun/Winnipeg/MCC
From: Will Braun
Date: 7/25/2000 9:09:26 AM
Subj: Hydro 'PR' man in Free Press, July 25
Winnipeg Free Press
Tuesday, July 25, 2000
Letters to the Editor
p. A9
Hydro greenhouse gas production minimal
THE letter from Elizabeth Brink of California commenting on greenhouse gas
emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs requires a response.
Yes, greenhouse gases are emitted from hydroelectric reservoirs in Canada,
but the amount of production is trivial compared to emissions from
coal-burning thermal generating facilities.
Studies done in Quebec and Manitoba indicate that the average emission
from reservoirs is less than three per cent of the emission from coal
plants, for comparable amounts of energy. Of course, rivers, lakes and
marshes in their natural state also emit greenhouse gases, typically at
similar low levels.
In the early 1960s in Manitoba, government and Hydro representatives were
weighing options for meeting the province's future electricity needs --
whether to develop the hydroelectric potential of northern rivers, to rely
on the emerging nuclear technology or to build large coal-burning
facilities and import fuel from western coal fields.
By electing to develop the northern hydroelectric sites, Manitoba Hydro
estimates that it has avoided the production of over 400 million tonnes of
carbon dioxide from coal-burning stations. It was this kind of comparison
that Val Werier was highlighting in his recent column, Hydro contributes to
health of globe.
There is no means of generating large amounts of electricity that does not
have some environmental impacts.
Hydroelectricity is by definition renewable, and Manitoba Hydro maintains
that it is a highly desirable form of energy production, from both economic
and environmental perspectives.
Where hydroelectric developments have had environmental impacts, Manitoba
Hydro has taken responsibility for their effects and has put in place
mitigation works (such as weirs at Cross Lake and at Churchill) to try to
restore the environment to the extent practical. When that is not possible,
compensation is paid to the people affected.
Regrettably, it was often the nearby aboriginal communities that bore the
brunt of the environmental impacts in the North. It has just been in recent
years that Manitoba Hydro has been able to adequately address these issues
and has moved on to greatly improved relations with most northern
communities affected by its projects.
In addition, with the passage of time, the environment near the rivers and
lakes affected by hydroelectric development has largely stabilized and
adapted.
Recognizing that past projects have had impacts that can never be
completely undone, Manitoba Hydro has undertaken "offset" initiatives, such
as its Forest Enhancement Program, and funding programs such as our
Environmental Partnership Fund, that aim to improve the environment in
Manitoba generally and to indirectly compensate for any environmental
losses associated with our projects.
Future hydroelectric projects now being considered, with the full
involvement of the local first nations, are being designed in such a way so
as to minimize flooding.
Therefore, greenhouse gas emissions from future projects will not be
trivial, they will be virtually zero.
Manitoba Hydro has learned from the past and, on balance, has contributed
to a better environment globally. We will continue to do so in the future.
GLENN SCHNEIDER
Manager, public affairs
Manitoba Hydro
[ End of Original Text ]
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