NL, BC sign deal to co-operate on green energy, discuss housing policy, hydrogen included.
The premier of British Columbia was in St. John’s Tuesday to sign a commitment to work with Newfoundland and Labrador to advance green energy solutions.
David Eby and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey signed what was described as a statement of co-operation with green energy in mind.
The three-year partnership involves sharing information to help advance projects, accelerating hydrogen and wind energy development, and working with the federal government to stimulate private investment among other points.
Eby told reporters Tuesday British Columbia can learn a lot from Newfoundland and Labrador when it comes to developing hydrogen projects. The province is also pushing forward with production with the goal of entering export markets in Asia and elsewhere.
David Eby, said:
We have significant energy resources and potential. We have a shared interest in the growing hydrogen sector in particular, and a low-carbon energy future.
“There’s lots for us to learn from Newfoundland about the specific use of Crown land. How you put those proposals forward, how interest was generated.… I think there’s much we can learn from what’s been done here.”
Furey, said:
The co-operation is a great opportunity for both coastal provinces to lead the country in the transition to green energy, which he said will make developments faster and more efficient.
“This is in no way a competition. This is indeed truly sharing our experiences. Sharing our governance structure, sharing our processes all in an endeavour to create green hydrogen,”
Furey and Eby also shared details of other conversations around how the province can learn from each other in different ways.
Eby, said:
he learned valuable insight around health-care for rural and remote communities, while Furey said he was especially engaged in conversations about mental health, addictions and housing.
Furey told reporters,
“British Columbia has been under a housing crunch for quite some time. It’s a newer concept, if you will, for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,”
“While we are making aggressive and acute strategic strides, having the ability to lean on a friend like David enables us to have learned lessons and quality evidence that will drive the policy-making cycle to ensure that we are enacting policies that will truly make a difference and are not just reflexive.”
Eby, said:
he understands the acute housing issues in N.L., and said it’s important governments work to get a grip on the situation as soon as possible.
“The market will not solve these problems by itself, so government needs to show that leadership role,”
“So it’s certainly, I’m sure, painful now. It can get worse.”
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NL, BC sign deal to co-operate on green energy, discuss housing policy, hydrogen included. source
