RE: Another side to Site C
Dave Conway raises some great points comparing new hydro to natural gas. Primarily, that the cost of hydro, (once built) is fixed for the life of the project. Although natural gas is currently very cheap, no one can say where it will be over the next 20, 30, or 100 years. The fact that it is currently trading in Asia at five times what it is trading at in BC should give us a strong hint of what direction prices are going.
In this respect, hydro is very similar to wind generation; the input fuel is free and therefore the cost is fixed for the life of the project. However, wind has some other characteristics which give it some advantages compared to hydro generation.
For example, wind places no burden on our scarce water resources. Also, because wind farms are very simple to develop, construct, finance, and operate, they can be delivered by a wide variety of players in the private sector. This lowers the cost through competition, protects the taxpayer from cost overruns, and allows local residents to take ownership in power generation assets.
These benefits of wind should be recognized in BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plan in order for all technologies to compete on an even playing field.
Nick Fedorkiw
Prince George
