Site C Update Says Design Will Need Upgrading
By 250 News
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 03:58 AM
Drawing courtesy B.C. Hydro
Prince George, B.C.- The Site “C” dam on the Peace River near Fort St. John, is moving towards the environmental assessment stage and in a presentation to Prince George City Council, B.C. Hydro spokesperson David Conway says Site C would produce enough electricity to power about 410 thousand homes every year.
Before making the decision to move forward with an environmental assessment of the project, there were plenty of public meetings, in fact, Conway says there were 121 meetings including 103 stakeholder meetings and 18 open houses.
There has also been input gathered from the public by mail, fax, e-mail, a Site C toll free phone line, and in person at the Fort St. John and Hudson’s Hope community consultation offices.
Conway says there were three main themes that surfaced at the meetings;
1- Avoiding or mitigating local impacts,
2- Interest in alternatives to Site C
3- Regional community benefits, particularly upgrades to infrastructure such as roads and bridges
When it comes to First Nations consultation, Conway says there are 41 Aboriginal groups involved. During the second stage of the project review, eight consultation agreements, representing 13 First Nations groups have been negotiated.
The environmental assessment and regulatory review is expected to take about 2 years to complete. If the Review process starts in 2011 as expected, Conway says design and construction would then take about 7 years with the dam up and running in 2020.
The cost estimate for the facility is still not certain. The historical facility (shown in the diagram) was pegged to be in the $5 billion dollar range. There will need to be changes to the design to accommodate new construction practices and to reflect current environmental, seismic and safety guidelines for the design which is now 30 years old.
Councillor Dave Wilbur says while he likes the project because it will provide green energy and will create jobs "I feel the need for a heavy dose of consultation".
BC Hydro's Dave Conway says 47%of the people questioned said they would not support the project, tied with 47% who said they would support the project. The balance was undecided. Conway adds the percentages are not the result of any scientific surveying, he also says there is no "target" in mind of an acceptable approval rating from the public, rather, that is what the environmental assessment is all about.
Hugh Smith, the Senior Environmental Advisor for B.C. Hydro says he is not concerned about the recent ruling against Taseko mines proposal for the Prosperity mine "That shows the environmental assessment process is working" says Smith. In that decision, the Federal review panel said the impact of themine would be too great on not only the environment but the social and cultural needs of First Nations to allow theproject to go forward.
Conway says B.C. Hydro is already looking at a "legacy" and what that might be for the Peace Region. There have been suggestions of anything from a " preferred rate," some wanted infrastructure upgrades, something like fair share, or the Northern Development Initiatives Trust, something that would carry on and provide long term benefits for the region.
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Posted by: RUEZ on July 6 2010 10:42 AM
We are being fleeced big time and now they are considering bringing in smart meters which we will all so pay for. Which liberal backed company will supply those.