Today the provincial government gave the go ahead on the construction of the controversial Site C dam on the Peace River. The 8.8 billion dollar project will be BC Hydro’s first major damn since 1985.
BC Hydro president Jessica McDonald says large dams like this one are what makes electricity so cheap in BC;
“From the time BC Hydro was created more than 50 years ago, we have undertaken some of the most ambitious hydroelectric projects in the world. From the completion of the WAC Bennet dam in 1967, to the Revelstoke dam in 1985, generations of customers have benefitted from these historic investments”
BC residential rates are currently the 3rd lowest in North America while commercial customers sit at 4th.
Premier Christy Clark stated that it was not an easy decision to come to, but she explained the process;
“It comes down to these five principals; we shouldn’t build unless we have to. We should only build if it’s affordable for the people of the province, we should choose the options that are the most reliable, the most sustainable and we should make sure that it’s the best option for the long term. In this case, it is a very long term.”
Once the dam comes fully online in 2025, it will provide enough power for 450,000 homes for 100 years. That is about 8 percent the provinces total power supply.
Environmental and First Nation groups were opposed to the plan because it is set to flood 55 square km of river valley.
“Destroying a fertile, biodiverse valley capable of feeding one million people simply makes no sense in the context of climate change.” Stated the Sierra Club of BC. “The drought in California demonstrates all too clearly that British Columbia must look within to ensure a secure food supply, yet Site C would destroy the last major undeveloped tract of productive farmland in the province.”
Both the provinces and federal governments environmental assessment certificates stated that 100 years of clean power was an acceptable trade off to an acknowledged negative impact of wildlife and first nations
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