We must get off fossil fuels as fast as we can

Re: “Consider Europe’s green-energy experience,” column, Nov. 10. Lawrie McFarlane’s column is confusing because he really has two topics: European energy policy and B.C.’s Site C issues.

The European subsidies have been successful at encouraging green-energy development. The generous subsidies are being withdrawn as they were never intended to be permanent, and the cost of the green energy projects has fallen precipitously. Cutting the subsidies is a sign of the success of the programs.

B.C.’s low electricity rates are questionable indicators of their true costs as we learn more about cost overruns for the proposed Site C and about dubious past B.C. Hydro accounting practices.

In addition, have they added the cost of losing priceless farm land to the Site C costs?

Also, it is hard to follow the logic that variability in solar and wind power generation is a problem when B.C. has so much existing hydro capacity that can be used as a buffer.

What a shame the B.C. Liberals wasted $1,000 for every citizen on Site C. Because we have this sunk cost does not justify spending an additional $2,000 per citizen for energy we do not need.

We must get off fossil fuels as fast as we can. The costs of dealing with the effects of climate change when temperatures exceed the Paris target of 1.5 degrees of warming will be truly overwhelming, including possibly making the planet uninhabitable for life as we know it. The sooner we make the change, the cheaper it will be. Polly Walter Victoria