The provincial power grid passed two major milestones in the past few weeks.
Firstly, the proposed Site C Dam was given the provincial green light to be built in northeastern B.C.
Secondly, alternative energy was given a nod when a wind farm proposal was also given the provincial thumbs up not far, as the crow flies, from the Site C location.
The province's minister responsible for energy, Bill Bennett, said a cheap and dependable electricity supply was essential to B.C.'s economic fortunes. It was one of the selling features used on his recent trip to Ontario, he said, when trying to attract industrial and commercial investment.
"Site C is the right decision," said Bennett. "There was no question about it, after all was looked at - when you consider the due diligence that BC Hydro did and the BC government staff did. Some people are second guessing some of that, but it was the right decision."
It was not the only form of electricity generation that was on the government's radar, he said. Geothermal, wind, solar, natural gas, run-of-river turbines, even coal were calculated against the Site C option but he said cost and technology advancements were such that Site C was still the dominant option.
"We looked at those alternate energy possibilities but Site C was just the best choice for the rate payer - and that is you and me," he said, but added "I doubt another major dam will ever be build in B.C."
That certainty is based on the trajectory of the technological advancements being made by the alternate energy sector, he said. As proof, he pointed directly at the Meikle Wind Energy Project located near Tumbler Ridge - a $400-million investment. Commencement of construction was announced on Monday.
The project will utilize 61 wind turbine generators to provide 185 megawatts of capacity and enough clean, renewable energy to the BC Hydro grid each year to power the equivalent of approximately 54,000 homes.
"As we begin construction activities on the largest wind energy project in British Columbia, we are especially appreciative for the local support and partnerships with the Government, BC Hydro and First Nations that have made the Meikle Wind project a reality," said Michael Garland, CEO of Pattern Development, the company behind the wind farm. They own 12 wind-power projects in Canada, the U.S. and Chile. "We are excited to create clean, renewable energy and economic development for the province. Over the first 25 years of operations, Meikle Wind is estimated to contribute over $70 million in payments for property taxes, the Crown lease, Wind Participation Rent, and community benefits."
Mike Bernier is the former mayor of nearby Chetwynd, and is now the MLA for the Peace River South riding in which the new wind farm sits.
"At a time when the declining price of coal has hurt the mining industry in the Peace River region the energy sector is providing employment and economic opportunities," Bernier said. "The Meikle Wind Energy Project and the Site C Clean Energy Project will bring badly needed jobs for local workers and revenues for local businesses."
Bennett said the same area is loaded in coal, but it is mostly metallurgic coal used in the making of steel not burning for power. He heard the calls for coal to be put on the energy table for consideration, but the variation in our mountains and the kind of pollution it creates - although emissions technology has come a long way in recent years to cleaning up coal - made this a non-issue for B.C.'s power grid.
"We have so many choices, we don't even have to go there," he said. "We just have so many other, better choices. People ought to be proud of what B.C. has done in its history, BC Hydro in particular, at building a system through the province that serves the public and industry exceptionally well."
Site C will provide about eight per cent of the overall power available to the B.C. electricity grid, Bennett said, and for future developments he would be looking to the alternate energy sector almost exclusively from now on.
