New energy legislation is making critics uneasy as the B.C. government again moves to consolidate its authority to expedite major projects — or to hold them back.

Warning of the “insatiable demand for power” from artificial intelligence (AI), data centres and cryptocurrency mining, Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix is justifying the moves by arguing the government must act now to limit access to the electrical grid.

“We have a massive demand,” he said. “Everywhere — in every electricity system in the world.”

Meanwhile, he is working to electrify the far reaches of B.C. to support natural resource extraction.

Critics argue this duality means the government is deciding who gets electricity and who doesn’t — and is undermining the decision-making authority of the B.C. Utili

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