So the whole aim of renewable energy is to provide energy that is sustainable. In that way, it is essential to ensure that the costs of implementing, using, and developing that energy has the smallest negative impact on the planet as possible.
As a reply to my own question I asked about Run of River the other day, I’ve received many replies. I think a friend of mine phrased it quite well, so I will share with you what he shared with me:
“Why do we need to conserve natural areas? I wish I could be as altruistic as the purists who understand that wilderness has intrinsic value, our responsibility being simply support and stewardship.
Honestly, I’m not that selfless. I’m still at the “what’s in it for me?” stage. The way I see it, a lot, for me, my children, and hopefully their children. The small isolated parts of our valley that we have not yet altered to conform to our perceived needs have an important value few of us consider. This value lies not in potential material transformation for profit, but in a deeper spiritual experience that can continue feeding us indefinitely.
Natural places like forests, ravines and creeks take me away to where I’m not in control. I can’t even pretend. I discover vulnerability that I resist in my built environment and sensitivity for that which is not yet but might be – a metaphorical glimpse at a future which I have no right to influence, only the privilege of participation.
Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Dillard, in her book “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” wrote; ‘Live water heals…I look up the creek and here it comes, the future, being borne aloft as on a winding succession of laden trays. You may look from a window and breathe the air, and say, with satisfaction or longing, “this is it”. But if you look up a creek, in any weather, your spirit fills, and you are saying, with an exultant rise of the lungs, “HERE IT COMES!”…I look up at the creek. It is the answer to Merton’s prayer, “Give us time” It never stops…giving us the future’
If we do not conserve and sustain our few remaining natural wild places, where will our future come from?” – John Vissers
In essence, he explained to me that run of river isn’t a good energy option because 1.) It has an impact on rivers or alters its natural flow radically changes ecosystems; water temperature, habitat, etc, which a ‘sustainable project shouldn’t do. 2.) It’s better and less expensive to just reduce inefficiencies with energy versus increase capacity.4.) Run of River could mean that the market would expand for “sale to the highest bidder” for energy, making it difficult to control. He talked about how, in his excerpt above, that putting a dollar figure on the earth ignores it’s ‘intrinsic value’.
I think that overall, through what this gentleman and others have described, that I can comprehend why there is a split between those in the environmental community that support/don’t support this energy initiative. At the end of the day, there will be impacts on anything that we do when it comes to larger energy development.
The key will be to try and become as efficient as possible in order to reduce that need for increased energy to start with. It’s so interesting to look back now and see the relevance of private power here in BC that I was never able to comprehend before! So…join the discussion too, leave your comment below on your thoughts!
Here are two videos I youtubed showing two different perspectives:
Filed under: COP15
