VICTORIA – The Campbell government’s Clean Energy Fund could actually go towards funding dirty energy projects, New Democrat MLAs have discovered.

“Only the Campbell Liberals would consider using a ‘Clean Energy Fund’ to subsidise the oil and gas sector”, said New Democrat Energy Critic John Horgan, the MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca. “Any reasonable person would assume that money from something called a ‘Clean Energy Fund’ would be dedicated towards green energy projects, but it looks like that might not be the case.”

Under questioning by New Democrat Small Business Critic Gregor Robertson Wednesday during committee stage debate for the Finance Statutes (Innovative Clean Energy Fund) Amendment Act, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Richard Neufeld revealed that the funding could be made available to a wide range of projects, including conventional oil and natural gas projects.

“This is a missed opportunity to robustly invest in renewable energy technology,” said Robertson, the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview. “Instead of putting money towards new and emerging renewable energy technology, the Campbell government is considering using taxpayers’ money to further subsidize the fossil fuel industry.

“Frankly, I am surprised that the Minister has not yet even come up with a workable definition for ‘clean energy’ projects,” said Robertson. “The Minister’s list of projects that could receive these subsidies includes everything from non-renewable resources, conventional oil and natural gas, power measurement, and transportation projects, as well as hydro, wind, and geothermal projects. That's a mighty long shopping list.”

The $25 million Clean Energy Fund was announced in the Throne Speech earlier this year, and will be funded through levies on the sale of electricity, natural gas, grid propane, and fuel oil.