The B.C. government is doing its part for Earth Hour 2012 for the fourth year in a row by shutting off the lights at the Parliament Buildings this Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to save power and encourage British Columbians to do the same, Environment Minister Terry Lake and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Bill Barisoff announced.

Prescribed burning is planned for the Bald Range area between April 2 and May 11, 2012, weather conditions permitting. This controlled burning will assist with ecosystem restoration and will occur in several phases during this period.

Finavera Wind Energy Inc. has received an environmental assessment (EA) Certificate for the proposed Tumbler Ridge Wind Energy Project located within the District of Tumbler Ridge municipal boundary in northeast B.C.

To protect sensitive grasslands and riparian ecosystems in the Thompson Rivers District, the Province has introduced measures to restrict recreational use in the Tunkwa-Duffy area.

Communities across British Columbia will be sharing more than $65 million in funding with the latest instalments of the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) and Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP), announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

The Province today introduced Bill 32, the Energy and Water Efficiency Act, to help reduce consumers' energy bills and lower operating costs for B.C. businesses.

Emergency Management BC is conducting a test of the B.C. Provincial Emergency Notification System (PENS) today.

Effective Monday, April 2, 2012, at 12 noon, the size of open fires will be restricted within the Cariboo Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

All proposed waste to energy (WTE) recovery facilities in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley will be subject to a full, mandatory environmental assessment in accordance with an amended and strengthened regulation under the Environmental Assessment Act, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced.