District staff from various departments always seem to keep their eye on the big picture, and also seem to be able to get experts from outside our area excited about getting involved in Squamish.
The latest example came Tuesday, when Council heard a presentation regarding energy and how we can better manage the resource locally. Councillor Heintzman, who likes this stuff as much as I like baseball, was literally jumping out of her seat with excitement. The rest of Council, I think it's safe to say, were equally intrigued.
Even prior to this we had staff working on alternative types of purchasing for vehicles and equipment. The arena and pool started a program four years ago that cut consumption of power and increased efficiency. The District also recently approved a pilot project involving biodiesel. The endorsement of Smart Growth principles and the support for public and commuter transit are other examples.
Wind energy has been a project the District has been pursuing over the last four years, and we finally appear to have some traction. It's possible that we could generate enough wind energy locally to provide all the energy needs for our community. The system doesn't actually work that way, but you get an idea of the value of the resource that could be available.
Not many people know that BC Hydro actually originated as a collection of small Hydro companies once owned by local governments and other interests. As we heard Tuesday, it's possible, and maybe probable, we are headed back in that direction with wind energy, run-of-river hydro projects and co-generation opportunities.On the conservation front, Council will be getting a report next week on a motion by Coun. Heintzman on water metering. Again, this will be a longer-term project, but one that is long overdue. We should also be looking to mandate toilets that waste less water.
It may well be true that small local governments alone are not going to change the world. However, if we all do our part the collective savings and their impacts can be huge. Maybe more importantly, we can set an example.
The best news is that funding is available for many initiatives through agencies such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. We can do the right thing, and take advantage of funding opportunities to help defray the costs of implementation. Over time, I think almost everyone agrees we will save money along with resources.
It's no great secret that our Council is having difficulty finding common ground. We're also - collectively - not providing great leadership to the people of Squamish. Perhaps energy and conservation could serve as our beacon and allow the seven of us to focus on a long-term goal that would be appreciated 50 or 100 years from now.Communities like Ladysmith (waste management), Dawson Creek (solar energy) and North Vancouver (geo thermal) are raising the bar. There is no reason why Squamish can't also be a leader. In fact, we should be a leader.
We should work with Quest University Canada, Capilano College and both senior levels of government. The first step might be to host the Fraser Basin Council's annual conference in 2008, followed by a Canada-wide symposium in 2009 on sustainability, and capped off with a world symposium in sustainability in 2010.
As Coun. Heintzman has suggested (and the credit for the suggestion of a 2010 symposium goes to her), that could be a true Olympic legacy for Squamish.
