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The Power the Games Tour is part of BC Hydro's efforts to promote conservation across B.C. and reach the goal of 210,000 Team Power Smart members by the time the 2010 Winter Games begin.

September 29, 2009

UBCM: Sustainability, 2010 Games a focus for local governments

BC Hydro will play a major role as sustainability and the 2010 Winter Games take centre stage at the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual convention this week in Vancouver.

"As Vancouver and Whistler bustle with excitement and anticipation, our entire province will become the home of the world's champions," said UBCM President Robert Hobson in the lead-up to the event, which is being held at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"We will soon have the opportunity to showcase the diverse, beautiful and vibrant communities of B.C."

As a major sponsor of the convention, BC Hydro will be working with communities to foster an energy conservation and efficiency culture in B.C. that leads customers to make a dramatic and permanent reduction in the use of electricity. The BC Energy Plan outlines two big conservation goals for BC Hydro: to meet 50% of new electricity needs through conservation by 2020 and to be electricity self sufficient by 2016.

"BC Hydro cannot realize the vision of a conservation culture on its own. While we can act as a catalyst to encourage conservation, achieving this vision also requires government policy initiatives at all levels and changes in the behaviour or our partners and consumers," said Bob Elton, President and CEO of BC Hydro.

BC Hydro will be partnering with QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow) to host a major workshop to help local governments of all sizes evaluate the merits of integrated community energy systems as a way of creating more sustainable communities.

The UBCM convention also offers opportunities for local governments and regional districts to hold individual meetings with senior BC Hydro executives to discuss critical local issues including:

• Power line upgrades;
• Vegetation management;
• Environmental issues related to dams and generating stations;
• Electrical infrastructure issues.

This year 25 meetings have been organized. In addition, BC Hydro will be joining BC Transmission Corporation as co-hosts of an evening reception for all delegates.

In preparation for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olymnpics, BC Hydro's Power the Games Tour is bringing the spirit of conservation and the Games to more than 50 communities throughout the province. At the UBCM convention, BC Hydro will showcase the interactive conservation lab that teaches electricity efficiency and conservation, and encourages British Columbians to sign up for Team Power Smart.

BC Hydro is challenging 210,000 people in B.C. to join Team Power Smart by 2010. If 210,000 British Columbians reduce their electricity use by 10%, we could save the equivalent of the electricity needed to power the 2010 Games. Everyone who joins Team Power Smart is entered in a monthly draw for a ticket package to the Games.