Last week's letter by a UBC researcher stated that there was no need for Site C at this time. The letter was well written and had good basis but lacked vision.
If B.C. had waited until we had a desperate need for electricity, how many hydro dams would have been built today? How would our economy look? B.C.'s economy and social well-being is very closely linked to the availability of inexpensive and reliable energy.
The LNG industry has invested $20 billion in B.C. in recent years.
One might reasonably expect that the business will move forward when prices dictate. Natural gas prices have stabilized in the $3 range in recent months and one might reasonably expect that they will rise in the next couple years. If the LNG business moves forward, it would be better to supply those electrical needs from clean hydro rather than burn valuable gas that could otherwise be sold for profit.
In the same Citizen paper, it was noted that the Fort McMurray oilsands were consuming a significant amount of gas for their oil production. When gas prices rise, there will be a market for clean hydro power.
You may have noticed when you did your income tax that the largest portion went to the federal government. Same as for people in Alberta therefore we might consider that a profitable Alberta is good for B.C. as well. The more Albertans contribute to the federal coffers, the less other provinces need to. At Bella Coola, hydrogen is being produced from surplus off-peak hydroelectricity and using that hydrogen to produce electricity during the morning peak demand periods. One might anticipate that this prototype business may expand - could we produce hydrogen on the coast and export it for sale overseas using power from Site C?
We are so entitled most people don't ever consider what would happen if they turned up their thermostat and the heat didn't come on. Last winter when it was -30 C I had lots of time to think while holed-up in my warm house. At that same time it was also cold in the Lower Mainland and BC Hydro was maxed out supplying hydro to the province - the largest power demand ever.
What if something went wrong with the natural gas supply when it was -30? If Prince George had lost its gas supply, there would not have been enough electricity to heat our homes. I doubt anyone would take comfort in knowing that on average we have enough electricity.
Due to good anticipation and planning, B.C. is now a very attractive place to live and for business to locate. We have some of the lowest, if not the lowest, hydro rates in the world helping provide for a strong economy to support our social services. There may have been significant rate increases recently (by percentage) but BC Hydro is working off a much smaller base. Someone who is a leader in a university should be able to do those calculations!
The $8 billion BC Hydro is investing is not lost dollars. Much will find its way back into the B.C. economy via taxes and it positions B.C. for further clean development. Some parties would rather spend the money on drug addicts and call themselves "green."
How would B.C.'s economy and related job market look today if all our government stood still until they were pushed into action? Where there is energy there is the potential for a good economy. Site C is a reasonable development. I would rather bet on the future than wallow in the apprehension of the past.
Gerry Lundquist,
Prince George
