Author | Lightnews

Failed B.C.-Alberta transmission line holds lessons for a national grid

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · May 29

B.C. and Alberta have shared a major electricity intertie for almost 40 years.

It has chronically failed to meet capacity — offering lessons on what stands in the way of the Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan for an east-to-west grid

The cross-border intertie has never met capacity, offering lessons on what stands in the way of the Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan for an east-to-west grid

www.timescolonist.com

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · May 27

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says it is in the early stages of a plan to dredge Burrard Inlet to allow more oil to be shipped through the harbour.

The project raises environmental concerns and questions over Indigenous rights

via @brentrichter.bsky.social

Port of Vancouver seeks to dredge Burrard Inlet for oil tankers

The project raises environmental concerns and questions over Indigenous rights

BC Timber Sales pauses logging in threatened caribou habitat

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Reposted by Stefan Labbé

Ainslie Cruickshank @ainsliecruickshank.bsky.social · May 20

"The B.C. government-run corporation responsible for administering a fifth of the province’s annual logging quota says it will pause new operations that overlap with habitat of a threatened caribou herd north of Revelstoke" via @stefanlabbe.bsky.social #bcpoli
www.biv.com/news/bc-timb...

The pause applies to new logging investments in the Revelstoke-Shuswap region, where the Columbia North caribou herd is losing habitat faster than it's replaced

Canada’s failure to monitor Fraser sands threatens region's future

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · May 20

At least 260 ha. of tidal marsh that protect Metro Vancouver's dikes have disappeared in recent decades.

Some worry the 9 million tonnes of sand dredged out of the Fraser River annually is playing a role.

But unlike other jurisdictions, Canada stopped measuring the problem years ago.

Ottawa stopped measuring sediment years ago, throwing the future of flood defences, farmland, cities and delta health into question

‘Bot-like’ network attacked Carney over ‘net zero agenda,’ says analysis

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Apr 25

A network of “bot-like” social media accounts targeted Liberal Leader Mark Carney in the lead-up to the federal election, a new analysis says

The accounts claimed Carney's old firm would benefit from the party’s “net zero agenda” in what experts say is a familiar climate disinformation tactic

Social media bot network suspected of using climate change disinformation campaign against Liberal leader

biv.com

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Apr 1

Vancouver-based The Metals Company says it is now seeking U.S. approval for deep sea mining in international waters.

The head of the United Nations seabed authority warned the move would be “violation of international law” and undermine multilateral efforts to govern the world's oceans.

B.C. company to seek U.S. approval for deep sea mining in international waters

Head of United Nations seabed authority warns move would be 'violation of international law' and undermine multilateral efforts to govern the world's oceans.

Nearly half of B.C. landslides linked to logging, wildfires, study finds

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Mar 19

Nearly half of 1,300 landslides that occurred during B.C.'s November 2021 atmospheric river event started in areas burned by wildfire or disturbed by logging.

The study raises questions over the long-term safety of B.C.’s highways and communities downstream of disturbed hillsides.

Study finds nearly half of 1,300 landslides that occurred during B.C.'s November 2021 atmospheric river event started in areas burned by wildfire or disturbed by logging.

B.C. company plans to ignite fusion within three years

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Mar 19

B.C. company says its fusion reactor will produce more power than it consumes by 2027 — a breakthrough that could eventually help scale the technology into a power plant without risks of emissions, a runaway reaction, nuclear waste or weaponization.

I visited the new test reactor to learn more

General Fusion says its new fusion reactor will produce more power than it consumes by 2027 — a breakthrough that could eventually help scale the technology into a power plant.

Rising temperatures could transform B.C. wine sector

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Feb 28

Climate change could improve grape-growing conditions in British Columbia -- at a cost

Climate change could improve grape-growing conditions for the province—at a cost

Nearly 40 fossil fuel companies shaping Canadian K-12 curriculums, report finds

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Feb 18

Across Canada, more than 50 oil and gas companies and their industry groups have influenced K-12 education on climate change, a new report has found.

Among them is the FortisBC-funded “Energy Champions”program that sends BC Lions football players into schools

Report found more than 50 oil and gas companies and industry groups influenced 34 educational institutions across Canada, who, in turn, provided education to K-12 students

'Slap in the face': B.C. communities frustrated with new federal disaster funding

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Feb 13

A new financing program will help protect communities from disaster, but it won't help those still vulnerable from the last strike

Merritt's Sean Strang said the city has been left behind

“It’s frankly a slap in the face.”

www.biv.com/news/economy...

A new financing program will help protect communities from future floods and wildfires, but it won't help municipalities still vulnerable from the last strike.

Drax power station didn't properly disclose burning forest wood - BBC News

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Feb 9

Logging records show Drax still sources whole trees from primary forests felled by other companies in B.C. despite its own sustainability criteria saying the company will "avoid damage or disturbance to high carbon forests" including “primary forest"

www.bbc.com/news/article...

The Drax facility, which burns wood pellets, is required to report where it sources its wood from.

www.bbc.com

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Jan 30

The B.C. government has sanctioned a Chilliwack slaughterhouse and is “re-focusing the role of inspectors” at all slaughter facilities across the province.

Their new mandate, said the ministry — focus on both food safety and the humane treatment of animals.

www.nsnews.com/resources-ag...

B.C. orders changes at slaughterhouse following animal welfare investigation

Animal welfare group calls for more oversight after province sanctions B.C. slaughterhouse.

Big trees crucial to migrate B.C. forests under climate change, finds study

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Jan 30

Big trees crucial to migrate B.C. forests under climate change, finds study

The goal of the experiment was:

- find out how Douglas fir trees handle human-assisted migration

- if they would do better in forests left partially intact after logging

www.nsnews.com/environment/...

The B.C. study could help planners ramp up 'assisted migration' of forests under stress from climate change.

Court upholds approval of B.C. port expansion despite risks to whales

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Jan 13

A legal challenge claiming the planned expansion of Canada’s largest port would threaten the survival of endangered southern resident killer whales has been struck down by a federal judge.

Both Canada's environment minister and Cabinet acted reasonably in approving the expansion of a shipping terminal near Vancouver, B.C., estimated to add $3 billion to the country's GDP.

Underwater volcano off B.C. coast primed to erupt

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Jan 9

Underwater volcano off B.C. coast is primed to erupt.

The Axial Seamount is not expected to threaten human population centres but it could help scientists forecast the eruption of more dangerous volcanoes.

The Axial Seamount is not expected to threaten human population centres but it could help scientists forecast the eruption of more dangerous volcanoes.

B.C. researchers aim to make the perfect T-shirt — from lumber

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Jan 9

“We’re going to spin it. And we’re going to knit it. And we’re going to see what happens.”

www.biv.com/news/bc-rese...

The bid to locally produce a sustainable high-end textile is still in its early stages, but researchers hope to have enough material to create prototypes within a year.

B.C. tree planting to plummet 23% amid wildfire boom

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Dec 18

British Columbia's government expects to plant nearly 60 million fewer trees next year — a 23 per cent drop from this year's planting season.

The steep decline is the biggest in years and comes after two massive wildfire seasons.

British Columbia's government expects to plant nearly 60 million fewer trees next year — a 23 per cent drop from this year's planting season.

Plastic or pine: Which Christmas tree is better for the planet?

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Dec 17

New data shows parts of B.C. are losing icy winters faster than the rest of Canada

Vancouver leads Canada's major cities, losing 19 days of winter over the past decade

And at the regional level, two Island communities lead the rest of the country

www.nsnews.com/highlights/t...

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Dec 13

I wade into the perennial eco-friendly tree debate: plastic, freshly cut or something else altogether?

Here’s what some of the science says:

www.timescolonist.com/environment/...

Choosing the most eco-friendly Christmas tree can be tough. We wade through the options: plastic, cut, or something else altogether.

www.timescolonist.com

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Dec 11

Audit finds delays to approve dozens of B.C. mines were largely caused by market forces — not government permitting.

“These fly directly in the face of this narrative that these mines are delayed by regulation,” said one researcher

Contrary to industry claims, red tape not slowing B.C. mineral boom, finds audit

Audit finds delays to approve dozens of B.C. mines were largely caused by market forces — not government permitting.

Doug Watt won't forget the sound of a tailings pond collapsing at the Mount Polley Mine more than 10 years ago, sending millions of cubic metres of waste into waterways in the British Columbia Interio...

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Dec 11

'Are they going to walk away?': Charges 10 years after B.C.'s Mount Polley disaster

www.timescolonist.com

Leaded gasoline legacy linked to surge in schizophrenia, ADHD and anxiety disorders, finds study

Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Dec 5

A new study links leaded gasoline to surge in U.S. mental health illnesses — especially for people born between 1966 and 1986.

Experts warn the same multi-generational problem could be quietly playing out in Canada

Study links leaded gasoline to surge in U.S. mental health illnesses. Experts warn same multi-generational problem could be quietly playing out in Canada.

Metro Vancouver takes aim at 'flushable' wipes with federal plea

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Stefan Labbé @stefanlabbe.bsky.social · Nov 29

Metro Vancouver has approved a motion seeking federal intervention on what is truly "flushable."

The move comes as mislabeled sanitary wipes continues to cost Canadian cities hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

As sanitary wipes labelled 'flushable' clog up Canadian sewers, Metro Vancouver calls on the federal government to define what should really go down the toilet.

www.burnabynow.com