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Clean Energy Group: what happened, Port council asks

Port Clements council members are wondering what happened to the islands Clean Energy Group, a group with representatives from all the communities that was looking into options for producing electricity here.The group held several meetings after it was first formed but has not met for over a year, mayor Wally Cheer told council members Monday night (March 17). The main issue it was dealing with - how to replace diesel-generated electricity with a greener option - remains hugely important, he said.Mr. Cheer said he also has heard nothing from BC Hydro, which issued a request for expressions of interest for green Graham Island electricity in 2012. In February 2013, more than a year ago, BC Hydro announced it had received proposals from 26 companies but has not provided any further information since then."As a council, we should be looking at what action we can take to move this along," Mr. Cheer said. "I don't know why the group suddenly lost its impetus."Councillor Urs Thomas spent a lot of time on the Clean Energy Group before it stopped meeting. He said it's difficult to organize meeting times and places for a large all-islands group, and some of the Clean Energy Group's later meetings were sparsely attended.Councillor Kazamir Falconbridge said several of the companies that responded to Hydro's request have proposed projects that would be located near Port, so the village naturally has an interest in the process. "It's important and we should stay well involved and well informed," he said.Council members voted to put the Clean Energy Group on the agenda for the next all-islands protocol communities meeting.