Thank you to Coun. Nancy Bepple for the recent article in The Daily News regarding the importance of energy conservation. It is vital to our community and environment to reduce usage where possible and to keep B.C. Hydro rates as low as possible.

It concerns me, however, that you are preaching conservation of power while supporting a business that will use more power than the entire City of Kamloops. As you know by now, Ajax Mine will use 471,946,457 kwh per year while the Kamloops residential use is estimated at 323,000,000 kwh per year.

Furthermore, Ajax will purchase the power at $0.035 per kwh, which is substantially less than it costs to supply the power. The difference is paid by the B.C. Hydro ratepayers through out the province of B.C.

I strongly recommend that you support the residents of Kamloops and the B.C. Hydro ratepayers throughout the province in demanding that power subsidies to Ajax Mine be halted and that they pay the minimum of the cost to provide that power.

Thank you again in bringing forward the importance of power conservation to the residents of Kamloops.

JOHN SCHLEIERMACHER

Kamloops

Editor’s note: Coun. Bepple has taken a neutral position on Ajax, excusing herself from debate on the issue due a declared conflict of interest.