VANCOUVER — B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell on Monday announced a sweeping, fundamental review of energy policy in British Columbia.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Independent Power Producers association of B.C., Campbell said the Liberals will strike four distinct task forces to work on various facets of the green power sector in B.C.

The intention is to make B.C. an international leader in green power development — both for this province and for export to markets including the United States and Alberta.

Its intention is also to attract and strengthen the independent power sector in B.C.

The task forces will review everything from the regulation of BC Hydro to community engagement in the development of new, private sector power development.

All four task forces stand under the umbrella of the Green Energy Advisory Task Force that was announced in the B.C. Throne Speech last August.

Campbell is looking for an exceptionally short turnaround time for the task forces to report back to government — he wants responses by January 2010, which is a nanosecond in the often ponderous regulatory world of B.C.'s electricity sector.

Campbell also announced a new cabinet committee to which the task forces must report. It includes himself, Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy Minister Blair Lekstrom, as well as the chairs of BC Hydro and BC Transmission Corp.

In a press release, the government detailed the task forces as follows:

• Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Procurement and Regulatory Reform. This task force will recommend improvements to BC Hydro's procurement and regulatory regimes to enhance clarity, certainty and competitiveness in promoting clean and cost-effective power generation; and identify possible improvements to future clean power calls and procurement processes.

• Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Carbon Pricing, Trading and Export Market Development. This task force will develop recommendations to advance British Columbia's interests in any future national or international cap and

trade system, and to maximize the value of B.C.'s green-energy attributes in all power generated and distributed within and beyond B.C. borders. The task force will also develop recommendations on carbon-pricing policies and how to integrate these policies with any cap and trade system developed for B.C.

• Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Community Engagement and First Nations Partnerships. This task force will develop recommendations to ensure that first nations and communities see clear benefits from the development of clean and renewable electricity and have a clear opportunity for input in project development in their areas. It will work in partnership with first nations, not only to respect their constitutional right, but to open up new opportunities for job creation and reflect the best practices in environmental protection.

• Green Energy Advisory Task Force on Resource Development. This task force will identify impediments to and best practices for planning and permitting new clean, renewable-electricity generation to ensure that development happens in an environmentally sustainable way. The task force will also consider allocation of forest fibre to support energy development and invite input from solar, tidal, wave and other clean energy sectors to develop strategies to enhance their competitiveness.

ssimpson@vancouversun.com