B.C. Hydro executive Doug Little said today northern B.C. is critically important as a prospective power generator through the proposed $7.9-billion Site C dam and bioenergy, but also as a user of power through emerging natural gas and mining projects.
"The load growth up here in mining and oil and gas is potentially huge. And then the Site-C project is a very good project for the province," Little said in an interview following a luncheon presentation in Prince George.
"You put that all together and the North is of critical importance to B.C. Hydro," said Little, vice-president of business and economic development for B.C. Hydro.
Little noted that B.C. Hydro has undertaken a preliminary review of a transmission line to Fort Nelson to provide power to the booming natural gas sector, a project which would have a price tag of more than $1 billion.
Little said that discussions needs to take place with communities and First Nations, as well as natural gas companies that might share in the cost of the transmission line.
Little did not provide a timeline on the project.
The natural gas sector in northeastern B.C., which is already booming, has huge reserves. Three of the major players there -- Apache, OEG Resources and Encana -- are joint partners in a planned $4-billion liquefied natural gas terminal in Kitimat and supporting 463-kilometre pipeline in northern B.C.
B.C. Hydro recently announced it was pushing ahead with the Site C dam, a megaproject in northeastern B.C. The Site C dam and the potential northeast transmission line are independent of each other, noted Little.
Site C would add a third dam on the Peace River to produce enough electricity to power 450,000 homes a year, creating about 7,000 jobs over a seven-year period.
The project is controversial because it would flood high-grade agricultural and wilderness land, and is being opposed by some residents, First Nations and environmental groups. Recently, the Treaty 8 Nations lodged a complaint with the United Nations over the project.
