A Failure/Success of the Process

The BC and Federal Environmental Assessment processes are intended to provide the necessary due diligence for a project's attributes to be vetted and the basis to an understanding of the potential impacts and mitigation.  The licencing process is intended to provide the limits to discharges and emissions.  So even with the process followed (albeit not all the information appears to be presented in this story), the end result was a failed effort - from the developer's perspective.  This is becoming increasingly frustrating for those that wish to develop ideas or advance projects within the system.  I have not made a thorough review of this particular project file, and there may well be aspects of this project that make this outcome appropriate.  But it is also another example of something gone wrong in the process.  And for that, everyone can take some responsibility.


From the project originator's perspective, it was a very unpleasant experience.  He surely thought that he was receiving credible and sound advice and guidance in navigating the process.  The stakeholders that voiced their final opposition certainly demonstrated their displeasure, and specifically, their uncertainty with the results of studies and decisions.  The key is that somewhere, somehow, the communication got derailed.  Although a most difficult challenge to manage at the best of times, it should not be unmanageable.  This project became completely unmanageable, and was abandoned.


Maybe the sequence of process became disorganized.  According to one comment left, the application for the City's business licence was the final hurdle that prevented the project from proceeding.  This suggests that the sequence may well have been critical in the process.  In my experience, there are no full guaranteed templates, and this project shows how important all aspects of the process need to be full vetted in a strategic planning process, prior to engaging in he said, she said, we said.  Early and Often.  And Meaningful.  These are the key elements to communications in any project development initiative.

'Green-energy' project to burn railway ties stymied by Kamloops protesters

With financial backing of Canadian government and U.S. Department of Energy, businessman was feeling pretty optimistic

Robert Matas

Vancouver —Published on Thursday, Mar. 25, 2010 4:21AM EDT

Manitoba businessman Kim Sigurdson was thrilled when Canadian Pacific Railway signed a contract to provide millions of old railway ties to his company for an innovative green project that would convert biomass into energy, heat and employment.

With the financial backing of the Canadian government and the U.S. Department of Energy, he was feeling pretty optimistic about the future of his company, Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation. He obtained a permit from the B.C. Environment Ministry to move ahead with the project in Kamloops. It was exactly the kind of green business that theBritish Columbia government is trying to encourage.

But then the critics began to speak out, turning his first attempt to develop a site for the project into an abysmal failure.

READ FULL STORY HERE