I am concerned that the proposed Site C dam on the Peace River represents a wrong turn in B.C. energy and food security policy. The two reasons for my opposing the project relates to the availability of alternative renewable energy sources to meet our demand growth. Secondly, is the rarity of agricultural land which would be flooded.
On the question of agricultural land, only five per cent of the province can be farmed.
Agricultural land that can produce a wide variety of crops called Class 1 and 2 makes up only 0.2 and 1.3 per cent of our province, respectively. Furthermore, the area proposed for flooding by Hydro is the best agricultural land north of Quesnel in the province.
In a world that is facing food security concerns, flooding that amount of land is not a good policy.
Although constructing Site C is not a good policy, more renewable energy in B.C. is. Wind energy would be cheaper to build for the amount of energy produced.
Creating better transmission connections (powerlines can now transmit power 3,000 kilometers with less than 15 per cent loss) which allows us to take advantage of the fact that the wind is nearly always blowing somewhere. New energy storage techniques permit solar power to be utilized at times other than when the sun is shining.
Site C is too destructive to our agricultural lands and the environment.
We have far better alternatives to meet our increasing demand for electricity required for a sustainable economy.
Thomas Cheney
Prince George
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