Q & A: John Newcomb, UVic

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John Newcomb is a Senior Laboratory Instructor and Course Advisor in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria, where he teaches labs and tutorials in environment geography, economic geography and statistics.

Over the past eight years, he has been involved in energy, water and environmental issues through his participation in a number of BC Hydro engagement initiatives. He is a member of both the BC Hydro's Electricity Conservation & Advisory Committee and Rates Working Group.

When did you become involved with BC Hydro's engagement initiatives?
I started working with BC Hydro in 2000 when I was the Chair of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce's Environmental Committee. BC Hydro sent an invitation to participate in the Jordan River Water Use Planning Committee, and I joined as the representative for industry and business. I was also involved in the 2005 Integrated Electricity Plan as the Victoria Chamber's representative.

In 2006, I joined the Electricity Conservation & Advisory Committee as an independent member. I am also currently a member of the Rates Working Group.

Who do you represent on BC Hydro's Electricity Conservation & Advisory Committee and Rates Working Group?
As a non-affiliated member, I ask questions as a lay person, which gives a voice to those who might not otherwise have it. I am interested in how the hinterland and the heartland are impacted; how the rich and the poor are impacted. I want to ensure that all the different perspectives are represented, and I am thankful not to be constrained by having to present only one point of view.

What experiences have helped to shape your perspectives on conservation?
I took a break from my Masters in Geography at the University of Victoria to work as a Foreign Services Officer in South America. In Peru, climate change and rapid population growth are creating a need to adapt and adopt the tools of conservation very quickly. I'm grateful to have the experience of seeing how people in shanty towns in Peru meet these challenges. This spirit of innovation is something we can learn from.

This experience has also given me an appreciation of the availability and reliability of our resources. In Peru, massive electrical blackouts occur on a weekly basis. Cities of 7 million people are left completely in the dark.

What are your top two or three energy-related interests?
I am very interested in the role conservation plays in economic development. We can't treat businesses the same way that that we treat residential customers. It is really important that we understand that we need to develop customized conservation plans to suit different needs. Everyone will contribute, but they will contribute differently. The solutions can't all be cut from the same cloth.

Resilience is also very important. We're facing a number of significant issues – climate change, sustainable economic and social development – and we may not have as many resources as we thought we did, but we still need to make sure that we can meet these challenges.

Do you feel your stakeholder interests are given due consideration?
Yes, I do. My goals are being met, and the issues I care about are being addressed. The ball is rolling, and it's moving us all ahead. BC Hydro has a "can do" attitude. If we continue along this vein, than we can do great things for British Columbia.