School boards, hospitals and other public-sector entities in British
Columbia are paying far higher prices for carbon offsets than is
justified by the market, according to the financial records of the
Pacific Carbon Trust. Data that the Crown agency has long
withheld, but which is to be released by government this week, shows
that corporations such as TimberWest Forest Co., Encana Corp., and
International Forest Products Ltd., have been selling carbon credits to
the Pacific Carbon Trust for prices ranging from $9 to $19 a ton. At the same time, however, public sector agencies have been paying $25 a ton to buy offsets from the Pacific Carbon Trust. The
discrepancy has sparked an internal government debate over the fairness
of the price structure, and outside of government, it’s raising
questions about whether the Pacific Carbon Trust should be scrapped. B.C.
Environment Minister Terry Lake said Wednesday that his government
remains committed to carbon neutrality, but is reviewing the Pacific
Carbon Trust. “Having those numbers now, we need to take a look at
options to make sure not only is the Pacific Carbon Trust getting good
value, but also the organizations paying into them, the public-sector
organizations, are getting good value,” he said. Mr. Lake said
cutting the rate paid by the public sector or using the Pacific Carbon
Trust surplus to pay down government debt are two possible options. But he doesn’t want the program dropped. (more)----------
Also see: BC: Are the Pacific Carbon Trust's Days Numbered?
BC: Taxpayers Pay Millions in Carbon Corporate Welfare—Again
Feb 2012 List: (Local ones excerpted)
School District 22, Vernon $65,431
UBC Okanagan $71,268
Okanagan College $47,540
Interior Health Authority $965,891
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