ADAM OLSEN -- Preparing and defending our communities, by renewing and reinforcing aging infrastructure, is going to be exceptionally difficult -- especially with shrinking resources and increasing costs

Earlier this week, I delivered my second reading speech to the Climate Change Accountability Amendment Act (2019). In that speech, I highlighted the overwhelming scientific evidence that we are facing an immense challenge to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Preparing and defending our communities, by renewing and reinforcing aging infrastructure, is going to be exceptionally difficult -- especially with shrinking resources and increasing costs. It's a wicked problem.

Heliogen is an exciting breakthrough and
has the potential to be a game changer

Further, the British Columbia government under the BC NDP is making it even more costly as they continue to offer taxpayer-funded subsidies to build new, or expand existing, fossil fuel infrastructure in total contradiction to this body of evidence with respect to climate change. In addition, they continue the trajectory of managing our natural resources to zero as set by the BC Liberals.

The trajectory is set far enough into the future that the current administration cannot see where it meets the horizon.

Harnessing the sun

It's within this current context that I share an article that my cousin Stephen sent to me introducing a company called Heliogen. The company has a patented technology using mirrors and artificial intelligence to focus sunlight to a single point to generate temperatures over 1000 degrees Celsius.

There are a number of potential applications for this technology. The examples offered in the article suggest it will be used to power cement and steel operations, possibly removing up to a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions created in carbon-intensive industrial processes.

Heliogen, backed by Microsoft pioneer Bill Gates and Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, made the breakthrough on the first day their system was operational.

Heliogen is an exciting breakthrough and has the potential to be a game changer in how we generate energy and power human life. However, it is only one of countless ideas that are harnessing the free energy of our sun. While the BC government rhetorically celebrates the growth in the innovation economy in our province, they are literally investing our money in the fossils.

It's time to invest in our future.

Adam Olsen ... is a Green Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Saanich North and the Islands. Born in Victoria, BC in 1976, Adam has lived, worked and played his entire life on the Saanich Peninsula. He is a member of Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), where he and his wife, Emily, are raising their two children, Silas and Ella.

NOTE ... Laila Yuile also spoke of Heliogen, in a short commentary posted yesterday.  CLICK HERE to read her remarks