Bullfrog Power in BC

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A month ago, Bullfrog Power announced that it would be selling green electricity in British Columbia. (See the company's news release, "Bullfrog Power Brings New Choice to British Columbians", March 24, 2009).

In BC, though, most of our electricity already comes from non-greenhouse gas producing sources. And by policy, going into the future, most of our electricity will continue to be green. So what the heck is Bullfrog Power selling that BC Hydro isn't also selling? Selling cheaper, I might add. Nada, folks.

Also, for independent power producers (IPPs) in BC, the companies which are producing all that new green energy, an electricity purchase agreement (EPA) with BC Hydro is the magic token that investors look for, it's the GO button to secure the water rights, start construction, etc. Without the EPA, there's basically no project. IPPs are not in the business of selling power to Bullfrog or anyone else.

So where does Bullfrog intend to get the green power it must ensure gets on the grid to offset its sales? The news release says "twenty per cent of Bullfrog’s power mix will come from wind generation facilities located in Pincher Creek, Alberta, and the remainder will come from low-impact hydro in B.C." Really. Selling us exactly the same power that BC Hydro is also buying? And which IPPs are these? Even more intriguing: importing power from Alberta! Isn't that working against the energy plan which calls for BC to be more than self-sufficient in electricity by 2016?

An article from the Toronto Star, "Tiny Bullfrog Power making a mark" says that Bullfrog "sells pricey energy to those who want a green feeling." That's in Ontario, where coal and nuclear are a big part of the energy mix. In BC, what Bullfrog is selling is more analagous to bottled municipal tap water. Not quite a scam ...

Where these guys come from, Ontario, the American Bullfrog is an indigenous frog. In British Columbia, folks, it's an undesirable invasive species which has taken over most of the smaller warmer lakes in the southwest of the province. The Capital Regional District even funds a program costing tens of thousands of dollars each year to keep the Bullfrog out of the CRD water supply area.

If Bullfrog Power intends to do business in BC, it should rethink everything, from the ecological significance of its name in this province to the redundancy of its product.