Playing by the rules on the Union River
By Dwayne Shaw and Brett Ciccotelli
Recently, Brookfield Renewables, the owner of the Ellsworth and Graham Lake dams, issued a press statement that has angered locals and further muddied the waters regarding their intentions to comply with state and federal water quality and fisheries regulations. What is clear is that Brookfield has decided its profits are at risk because its antiquated dams and highly problematic water management systems cannot be lawfully permitted under modern licensing requirements. Hydroelectric dams are licensed only every 40 years, and the old license has run out; Brookfield apparently does not like playing by today’s rules, versus those in place many decades ago.
Much too little, way too late
Dear Editor:
Last week a vice president from Brookfield Renewables the Canadian owners of the Ellsworth and Graham Lake dams made a statement to our community through an op-ed to the EA. This message comes after they have fought for over eight years to maintain the status quo of drawdowns at Graham Lake and horrific ongoing fish kills at the turbines. Now they are proposing that the community should be satisfied that they will “voluntarily” limit drawdowns for a few months next summer and if licensed provide safe upstream passage for salmon, eels, alewives and shad by 2035 as prescribed by federal agencies.
The Globe and Mail JOEL SCHLESINGER Published December 10, 2020
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Keen investor interest in the renewable energy sector has sent exchange-traded funds that cover it soaring this year.
Several climate-friendly government stimulus programs are driving enthusiasm for green energy ETFs, says Daniel Straus, director of ETF and financial products research at National Bank Financial Inc.
He describes President-elect Joe Biden’s climate-friendly policies, in particular, as a “tailwind behind solar, wind and other green investment.”
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Prices of some pure-play clean energy ETFs have posted triple-digit returns so far this year, with Canadian companies among their top holdings.