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Back by popular demand, the National Energy Board's Joint Review Panel for the Georgia Strait Crossing (GSX) natural gas pipeline is returning to Sidney for one day only.

The panel, which held an exhaustive three-week hearing there in March, has ruled it will hear oral arguments on a motion put forward by the GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition, asking them to consider having Terasen Gas Vancouver Island file evidence regarding its existing natural gas pipeline system from the mainland to the Island.

Terasen has said that by boosting the compression in its existing pipeline it can supply natural gas for B.C. Hydro's controversial $370-million, 265-megawatt gas-fired generation electrical plant at Nanaimo. That plant is to be fed by the $340-million GSX, and Terasen argues its plan is $179 million cheaper.

"The GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition is delighted that the panel has acknowledged our notice of motion," said coalition director Arthur Caldicott, who suggests the Terasen evidence is crucial. "Terasen outdoes the GSX completely. It costs less, doesn't require a new pipeline and it's an alternative the panel has to hear about otherwise their review of GSX will have no integrity."

Terasen didn't seem to think the GSX hearing was the right forum for their information and instead opted to act as an intervenor at the B.C. Utilities Commission hearing into the generation plant. That will begin June 16 in Nanaimo.

The hearing for the coalition motion is set for June 23 at the Mary Winspear Centre starting at 9 a.m. That date conflicts with the utilities commission hearings, and Caldicott says the coalition will ask for a postponement.

The three-member Joint Review Panel made up of made up of Elizabeth Quarshie and Rowland Harrison of the NEB and Bryan Williams, a former chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court, who was appointed by federal Environment Minister David Anderson, continues to deliberate over the evidence of the earlier GSX hearings. The final ruling is not expected until the fall.

B.C. Hydro spokesperson Elisha Moreno said the utility wasn't surprised by the decision, but they were concerned and disappointed. "It's disappointing as there has been delay after delay to try and get GSX going ... we need it in service by October 2005," she said.

In a later press release, Moreno noted Hydro "does not have the luxury of time to complete this project. We have an obligation to provide safe, reliable service on Vancouver Island, and GSX is part of us maintaining that obligation in the future."

The release also reiterated Hydro's contention that "Terasen's proposal does not include the level of financial, regulatory or timing details that would normally be required by Hydro to responsibly rely on it as a delivery system. Hydro is not persuaded that we can responsibly assume the completion risk of Terasen's project."

Parties wishing to be heard on the motion must notify the Joint Review Panel in writing by 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday.