Dear Editor:

Re: Site C Consultations, June 1, 2012

I am writing to clarify some statements made in a recent letter.

The Site C Clean Energy Project (Site C) is currently undergoing a cooperative environmental assessment process by both the federal and provincial environmental assessment agencies, which will include a joint review panel process. As part of the environmental assessment of Site C, BC Hydro is identifying and assessing potential project effects on communities, as well as opportunities to provide lasting benefits in the region. This includes conducting studies and developing plans related to employment opportunities and outdoor recreation, among many other topics.

BC Hydro’s public and stakeholder consultations, and discussions with regional and local governments, will help inform project plans and mitigation strategies as BC Hydro prepares the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for submission to the regulatory agencies. An outdoor recreation plan and a socio-economic plan addressing workforce effects will be included in the EIS, and will be available for public comment as part of the independent environmental assessment process.

It is also important to clarify that domestic electricity demand in B.C. includes three customer groups – residential, commercial and industrial. BC Hydro’s power system is integrated and does not pinpoint a single resource, such as Site C, to a single customer or sector. With electricity demand in B.C. forecast to increase by approximately 50 per cent in the next 20 years due to growth in each of the three customer groups, all BC Hydro customers — residential, commercial and industrial — would benefit from the Site C project.

To learn more about Site C, please visit www.bchydro.com/sitec.

Dave Conway

Community Relations Manager, Site C

BC Hydro