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Tuesday, October 7, 2008 |
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B.C. should produce more electricity, chamber told |
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Written by SCOTT STANFIELD
Citizen staff
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
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The province -- which has been in an electricity deficit position the past six years, according to B.C. Hydro -- imports about 15 per cent of its energy from coal-fired plants in Alberta and the U.S. At the same time, energy demands are forecast to grow 25 to 45 per cent over the next 20 years in B.C.
How does B.C. deal with the supply and demand crisis? Conservation helps, but new power projects from the private sector, otherwise known as independent power producers (IPPs), will help B.C. become electrically self-sufficient by 2016, which is among the goals of a provincial energy plan, McInnes told a Prince George Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday at the Ramada Hotel.
"Because of our cheap electricity, we take it for granted," said McInnes. "Significant new electrical resources are needed to close the gap."
The last major generation project constructed in B.C. was the Revelstoke Dam in 1984, while the last major transmission line was the Nicola Line in the late '70s.
A B.C. Hydro plan to develop a 900-megawatt project on the Peace River has the potential to displace about half the energy imported in B.C. The project, however, is more than a decade away from happening because of permitting, design and construction.
Perhaps the best solution is run-of-river projects, which, unlike traditional hydroelectric facilities, do not require damming of water.
There are currently 44 IPPs in the province, largely in southwest B.C., the average size of which is about 10 MW.
"We're going to need some larger projects," said McInnes, noting private projects have broader social implications such as job creation and climate change benefits. As an example, the workforce at Plutonic Power Corporation's East Toba/Montrose project is 30 per cent First Nations.
There are currently four hydroelectric projects in the Robson Valley selling power to B.C. Hydro.
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The electricity crisis has been manufactured by stock promoters, like Mr McInnes who want to privatize our assets in the name of our salvation.
Check the FACTs for yourself at http://www.bctc.com/the_transm...l_data.htm
While Richard Neufeld and Gordon Campbell are high fiving each other for petroleum lease revenues Plutonic Power is snapping up our renewable energy assess for $5,000 - $10,000 dollars each. ( $3,500 Land Use Application)