Power projects put heat on B.C. government

Tom Fletcher
Black Press
Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Aug 11 2006

VICTORIA - Already facing criticism for resorting to coal-fired generation plants to close the province's energy gap, the B.C. government is poised to approve an unpopular hydro-electric project in the Kootenays.

The Environmental Assessment Office has recommended approval for the Cascade Heritage Power Project on the Kettle River, after six years of protests from local residents. The project now goes to Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy Minister Richard Neufeld for a final decision.

Run-of-river hydro projects are generally uncontroversial, but local governments opposed the Cascade project near Christina Lake, which would divert water out of scenic Cascade Canyon through a tunnel to drive turbines before returning it downstream.

The NDP cited the Cascade Canyon project as a case where local governments should have a say in power projects. The B.C. Liberal government passed legislation this spring removing the ability for municipal governments to stop power projects through zoning.

Joan Hesketh, executive director of the Environmental Assessment Office, acknowledged in the decision that local opposition to Cascade continues.

"However, the proponent's redesign and downs-scaling of the disturbance footprint of the project since the original concept was proposed, together with numerous other proposed mitigation measures, and the proposal to place a Water Act reserve on the Kettle River upstream of the project, has significantly reduced the project's potential to cause adverse effects."

B.C. Hydro awarded 38 energy supply contracts at the end of July. More than half were for run-of-river power in locations including Alice Arm, Revelstoke, Mission, Chilliwack, Lytton, Kamloops and Port Hardy. But it was coal-fired plants at Princeton and Tumbler Ridge that prompted most objections.

"It is disturbing that our provincial government is embracing a minimally updated 19th century technology that other provinces are phasing out," says Princeton Mayor Randy McLean in a statement released by the conservation group the Pembina Institute.

The Independent Power Producers Association of B.C. argues that the provincial process already allows substantial local input before projects are licensed, and the Cascade decision detailed numerous consultations with municipal, regional and aboriginal governments.

B.C. hasn't added major new generating capacity since the Revelstoke Dam went online more than 20 years ago.

The largest producer in the latest batch of contracts is Plutonic Power Corporation's 196 megawatt run-of-river project near Powell River. Another major producer is the 184-megawatt AESWapiti Energy Corporation coal-fired plant, to be built next to a planned coal mine at Tumbler Ridge. Wind farms near Prince Rupert, Chetwynd and Dawson Creek are expected to have a capacity of 325 megawatts between them.

The provincial government is still considering Site C, the third dam on the Peace River system that has been proposed by B.C. Hydro for more than 20 years.

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