Miners developing renewable-energy ventures at BC mineral projects assured of govt support

British Columbia’s economy had historically been firmly rooted in mining and, with a slew of new projects progressing through the permitting stage, the provincial government was ready for them to plug into its vast grid, brim-full of renewable electricity, and to support miners’ efforts to implement renewable projects at their mine developments. British Columbia’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, on Thursday told an audience attending the Energy and Mines summit, in Toronto, that mining accounted for about 21% of the province’s current electricity load and that, while there was a province-wide capacity surplus, the province had pledged to support renewable energy projects proposed by new mine developers.