When you build an energy plant you need fuel. Constantly, consistently and for the entire life of that plant.

Coal-fired plants need coal. Nuclear reactors need plutonium or uranium. Hydroelectric dams need water. Photovoltaic panels need the sun.

And the half-billion dollar garbage incineration plant the regional district of Metro Vancouver now will consider building will always need garbage.

Tonnes and tonnes and tonnes of it.

So the Metro decision to approve a waste management plan that, on the one hand, sets "zero waste" goals and, on the other hand, drools at the purported profits from burning garbage in a plant that will need a constant supply makes little sense.

Then there are the NIMBY concerns of Chilliwack MLA John Les and Mayor Sharon Gaetz with which we couldn't agree more.

No one should have to put up with garbage burning in their back yard or, in this case, their neighbour's back yard.

But now that Metro has predictably decided to do just that, the waste plan goes to the Environment Minister for approval. That minister, of course, is our own Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner who, to put it mildly, is now in a bit of a pickle.

How, as a Fraser Valley MLA, can Penner approve a decision so broadly loathed by residents, politicians, chambers of commerce and just about everyone in the Fraser Valley?

But how can he reject Metro's plan without at least appearing to have a conflict of interest given his constituency's point of view?

Metro's CAO Johnny Carline said Friday that Penner must make his decision based on scientific information and not as MLA for Chilliwack-Hope.

We hope Penner decides based on the scientific information that says garbage incineration is potentially harmful to health.

Then he'll please Chilliwack too.