News:

Province Releases Energy Plan Report on Progress
The Province has released an Energy Plan Report on Progress detailing the work that's been done to date in achieving the goals and targets set out in the BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership released in 2007, it was recently announced. Click here to read the full government release.

News:

U.S. Black Liquor Law Threatens to Kill
Canadian Pulp Sector
The Canadian pulp and paper industry says it is facing mill closures and the loss of its global markets over a massive United States green energy subsidy that could provide a $6 billion taxpayer handout to American kraft pulp producers. The subsidy, a tax credit for mixing alternative fuels with fossil fuel, can cut as much as 60 per cent off the cost of chemical pulp in the United States. It has opened up a competitive gap no producer in the northern hemisphere can match. View full story as reported by Gordon Hamilton, Vancouver Sun.

New Discussion Paper on the Future
of Silviculture in BC
The intent of this discussion paper is to solicit input on a new vision to guide silviculture on public forest lands and make British Columbia a world leader in growing trees. This paper outlines challenges and opportunities, benefits, the current silviculture framework, principles to guide the development of a new framework, and some questions to stimulate discussion on the future of silviculture in British Columbia. Click here to view Discussion Paper.

Carbon Trust Looks to Invest in Forest
The Pacific Carbon Trust has released a request for information to develop forest-based carbon offsets, marking the first major step toward positioning B.C. forests as a key supplier in the global carbon market, it was recently announced. Click here to view the official government news release.

Tree Poachers hit B.C. Conservation Area
When an old-growth maple tree falls in the majestic woods of British Columbia's Burnaby Mountain, does it make a sound? Yes . . . but only once it's been transformed into a guitar. Poachers have chopped down five trees and slashed at least 25 more within the mountain's conservation area in search of a specific grain used in high-end guitars. Click here to view the full story as reported by CTV.

Air Pollution Monitoring Market
to Rise 20% in 2010 Due to
Greenhouse Gas Measurement Needs
The world market for stack and ambient continuous monitoring plus periodic monitoring and other related services will rise to $2.2 billion in 2010. This is a 20 percent increase over the projected 2009 market. The rapid expansion in CO2 measurement investment and the increased activity for stack monitoring in Asia will account for most of the increase. Click here to view the full article as posted on EnvironmentalExpert.com.