(Aired March 19, 2010)

I wonder what would have happened if Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation had done a better job of public relations before pulling the pin last night and deciding to drop plans for a gasification plant at Mission Flats.

It was only yesterday that Aboriginal Cogeneration spokesman Kim Sigurdson told us he was planning to push on with his plans for a gasification plant at Mission Flats to burn old creosote-covered railway ties and turn them into energy. What happened between his conversation with us yesterday morning and 9:30 PM last night isn't public knowledge. But Sigurdson sent out an email last night to the media saying he was pulling out of Kamloops and would try to locate the plant elsewhere.

Sigurdson did admit he was affected by the amount of opposition to the plant. He says the technology is sound, and the plant would have been good for the city. But we'll never know. The Environment Ministry didn't have a problem with the technology, even though there wasn't concrete evidence presented to the public
that it was safe.

Even last week at a public forum, Sigurdson talked about interest from all over the world for the technology, to burn a variety of items, none of which was remotely as dangerous as creosote.

If Sigurdson had come to Kamloops council and the general public sooner, would it have made a difference? I highly doubt it. I don't think it would have ever flown publicly. When the idea of toxins floating around starts hitting the news, it's like waving a big red flag, and I don't think Sigurdson would ever have picked up strong public support.

And public support isn't always necessary. Look at City Council this week, voting for water meters despite a public referendum a few years back indicating a lack of public support for that move. The evidence, said council this week, was overwhelming. Water meters were needed.

If the Environment Ministry felt Sigurdson's technology was sound, and the proper procedures for monitoring were put in place, what would have been technically wrong with him going ahead? Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy the plant isn't coming. I'm just saying that lack of public support isn't the only criteria.