NIMBY ( Not in my back yard ) has such a huge affect on things. The only reason why BCH even has to consider this is those fine folks out on the island shot down the natural gas generation plant that was to go on the island, because of the environmental impacts. So of course let’s build something where there is very little population and the environmental impact is of a different type. Go bury the most fertile soil in BC under water because the consumer, while getting cheap electricity will just have to pay more their food. Then again at the rate how the farmers are being paid for their crops / animals does that really matter ? All of BC has benefited from the two dams first built on the Peace by the low electricity rates and it has over the years been a real economic driver in this province. So maybe the Peace Region just has to be recognize their role in BC is to provide electricity, gas, oil and to keep the rest of BC going.

It is too bad though, for the millions and millions of dollars generated in the Peace Region for the province that the small fraction of money they get for their efforts. They get some of the worst roads going, lack of services and I still find it funny that 25% of all roads in Fort St. John are not paved, but that was a local political decision years ago.

So what am I saying, I am saying I support Site C even though it will have a huge environmental impact but I would rather have some land flooded then a natural gas, oil, coal burning plant or worst yet a nuclear plant.

The majority of the opposition in the Peace Region is being led by one person, who lives by Hudson’s Hope and has been directly affected by the initial land base purchase for Site C. She has been bitter ever since that happened and over the years has held counicllor positions on the Hudson’s Hope town council and uses that as a platform to complain about Site C. So the majority of the protests about Site C are not based on reason and logic but rather emotional ties.

What environmental imapct? I worked on the "studies" from Bennet Dam to Ft Chip. There isn't any.

Anyone owning land that will be flooded, will be paid handsomely for it.
Heck take the cash and retire.
People want money, development, and jobs, then bitch when someone tries to do just that.

Stop whining and enjoy the fact you have power in your home.
If you whine I think you should be disconnected from the power grid for a year, and see what you think then !

And the pic of the sign way up the tree to show the high water mark is false also.
if you read the design it will not flood the HWY, or force the now existing HWY 97 north to be moved.

Actually Marty the majority of the land was bought up many years ago by BCH and has been leased back to the home owners. There are still though some major ranches that have to be bought out and chances are, as is typical of these sort of buy outs they will get far below market value as it is today. Cause if you don't sell the province will just take it any how.

Actually HWY 97 between Hudson's Hope and Fort St. John will be flooded and will either have to be re-routed or abandoned as this area would be filled with water for the reservoir.

Yama if you don't consider the flooding of thousands of acreas of land, removal of the trees, altering the land mass for animals / birds and the changed water ways for the fishes as no impact well then great, glad you worked on the studies. There is a huge impact but I would rather have that impact than the alternatives.

Lunarguy,

thanks for the info, I will look at the plans more closely next time, i thought it showed HWY 97 as unaffected.
But i just took a close look.
And in the past people seem to be paid a fair market dollar for the land that ws bought, so i hope this continues.
As its not fair to just low ball the price to them, as it is theirs to start with.

I say Make the Lake.

Site C is going to happen. We need the power. The Peace already has two dams - Adding a third is going to take away some farm land, sure, but its a heck of a lot better than Coal or Natural Gas fired options, and its more reliable than solar or wind - Its going to happen.

Opposition is coming from a very small vocal group that put up some signs and hug the trees... if you did a survey with the the majority of area folks, you'd fine that they're behind it.

I say, Make the Lake.

I say Make the Lake.

Site C is going to happen. We need the power. The Peace already has two dams - Adding a third is going to take away some farm land, sure, but its a heck of a lot better than Coal or Natural Gas fired options, and its more reliable than solar or wind - Its going to happen.

Opposition is coming from a very small vocal group that put up some signs and hug the trees... if you did a survey with the the majority of area folks, you'd fine that they're behind it.

I say, Make the Lake.

I see you like to repeat yourself there andisama.
I didn't agree with your the first time so you can imagine how i feel the second time.
The Hydro company has been running amok up there for a long time.
Yes I have lived there, and for a long time.
A lot of river level farm land will be covered. families who have live on these sites for generations will be more or less told get out and paid no where near the value of the land.
And so goes the big business and government partneships.
I don't agree with it, I don't particularyl want to see it but I feel too that it will.
As for a small group of people....check out your data and put yourself in their shoes and try and visualize what it must feel like.

"Site C is going to happen. We need the power". Who is "We" in this statement. No one has mentioned as to how much power we are exporting to our neigbour to the south. Are we building this dam for us or is it being built with the export of power in mind.

BC Hydro seems to dwell on the need for a new dam because "We are now importing power" but how much are the exporting. Where are they importing this power from? Does anyone know?

There is no doubt that the present dams on the Peace are responsible for the growth of British Columbia and if this were the case for the Site C like the person said "Make the Lake" but if we are building this project to export the power for export, let the river run.

As for getting a lot of money for the property that will be flooded is very questionable. Read the book by Earl K Pollen, This Was My Valley. It tells a much different story of how the land was acquiered when the WAC Bennet dam was built.

And last but not least if BC Hydro builds the dam not a problem but if they go out and look for a partnership to build it forget it. We are just filling someone elses pockets. If BC Hydro needs the power they can provide the revenue to build the dam.

I didn't suggest that it would be EASY for the families to give up their land. They should be paid a hefty premium for that land. Its not going to be EASY to say good bye to the land for anyone... the economics makes sence for Site C to happen.

As for "WE" needing the power, North America needs the power. It will be exported. There is the ability here to generate a huge amount of reliable, clean energy with site C, and its the best of the options on the table so that north america can continue to develop. Take a look at what happened in alberta this week and in the states. It is needed.

So, with this argument: "if the power will be exported, let the river flow..." With that thinking, we should stop the oil and gas development as well! Its all going to the states! Halt the forestry industry! We're providing lumber for homes in the US and Japan! Northern BC is a resource economy - our economy lives on exporting our natural resources! How will site C be any different? Why should it be different?

Should we say no to a development that would power progress in North America because some farm land will be lost and some familes displaced? Maybe, but sadly, thats not the way the world works.

Were things done poorly when building the WAC dam was built? sure. Lets learn from that and do the best we can when this one is built.

Plus, it will make a nice lake one day. Charlie Lake has too much algie.

Make the Lake ! Thats a great expression !

"North America needs the power"Anyone that is familiar with the Free Trade Agreemnt and NAFTA tells us that these are bum deals for Canada. They have put us into a position where we will forever be exploited by the USA.
To hell with North American, Canada comes first. We don't have to stop exporting our resourses we have to stop giving them away so that the share holders in our Corporations can make a profit.

The logic that we are a resource economy is incorrect. We are a Nation, a Province, a community first. Or do we care about our idntity? Do we care about our children? Or do we just care about profit?

The profits from our natural resources should not be allowed to leave our Country they need to be reinveted to provide secondary industry to keep us viable and a growing nation.

Switzerland one of the best economies in the world restricts the out flow of profit from corporations most of it mut be reinvested in their economy.

The dirction we are going will forever keep us employed as hughers of wood and carriers of water.

Kimbo I agree with you.

Clearly the only one that should ever be allowed to build a dam in BC is BC Hydro solely for the benefit of the residents of BC. This means no private partnerships on this essential piece of infrastructure that has massive opportunity costs to the local land owners as well as the local environment.

I find it funny that Campbells position on resource allocation at the federal level is that resource revenue belongs only to the provinces and should not be shared, and yet for the people of Northern BC it is expected that their resource revenue belongs allocated by Southern BC for their benefit. Its hypocritical and undermines the position of BC as a whole, ditto for our democratic rights.

I say no to another Kemano where our evnvironmental land and water table is messed with by a multinational corporation for the extraction of profits to be exported to foreign investors, and the benefit of foreign energy consumption needs.

The facts are that the decision will be made on our future by politicians from Vancouver,funded by foreign controlled corporations, and with the cost benefit assessment addressing their concerns and not ours.

When the Bennet Dam was put in, it flooded a little place on the Peace called Gold Bar. I stll have a couple old Saturday Evening Posts magazines dating back to 1928 with that address

Site C is too far away from where the power is needed. It would be much more expedient to build a dam on the Fraser and flood Prince George. I could get a brand new house on the hill and a brand new downtown to go shopping in and would give Kelowna a run for the money as the nicest lakeside city in BC.

We could even get a floating bridge to connect the Westgate area with the airport.

;-)

The Yankee's want it they'll get it just like everything else that is for sale in B.C. with the provicial Liberal Government. Thanks Gord.

There is no shortage of power for the people of B.C. but with the incorporation of BCTC to send all the power to the States, guess what? (another ploy by Campbell to privatize everything we own)

I think OWL has a surprisingly good idea. The dam should be put in at about the Fraser rapids, south of Stoner. It doesn't have to be a huge dam as it would need fish ladders, so the flooding would not be much more than the historical flood levels.
The challenge is finding good rock for the generator tunnels.
If fluffy fellows like Owl support the idea we might really have a chance to get it built. Great idea, good one Owl!

Darnit-that owl has come up with a solution again.
Not only would we have a great lake, we would have a gigantic skating rink in winter-a really big oval.
The residents could ski down the hills to the lake in winter, snowmobile, jet ski, water ski, AtV's, waterslides could be established, stock with fish for the fisherman, toboggan, swim, have floating pubs, houseboats, nudist swim clubs, (great entertainment if a bad year for blackflies,mosquito's hornets, wasps, etc.)
I bet we could attract a lot of tourists then.
I think the idea of the floating bridge is a bit "far fetched?" From Westgate to the airport? Jeez, owl, wouldn't that be a bit much? How deep do you want this damn lake?
Anybody wonder if maybe we don't have a little heat stroke?

Owl,

good idea.
PPG could use a new face lift.....just flood to the top of the roof of walmart, and call it the high water mark.

I would love to see walmart gone personally.

We do need to try and spare the airport though....they just fixed the building up so nicely it would be a shame to ruin it, and all 4 parking spaces they have at the airport now.

I spent an hour on word perfect to get my message across on, "people before profits." When I read Owls post and other ideas I have to let it go as usual Owl stole my thunder and I have to scrap my composition. It is just great to hear some good ideas.

I spent all a whole hour on this philsophical copostion and I just can't let go to waiste so here it is;
We used to call them con-artists today we refer to it as positive thinking. The economy of British Columbia is booming with all the activity in mining, oil, gas, timber and the list goes on. Prince George is the second largest boom city in the country. Look at the benefit to Prince George from the container port being built at Prince Rupert. Why do we have to keep on repeating this good news.

Is it because we are trying to extract the last dollar from those who have two jobs trying to survive on their minimum wage and the best way to do this is through the old tried and true method of price manipulation. The cost of natural gas has doubled in the last few years, Hydro has just gone up the cost of a 2X4 has doubled and the cost of fossil fuels is another story. These are all products that come from our natural resources.

And why have we lost control of our natural resources. We have lost control of our governments. In Prince George the city borrowed 56 million dollars to get us in on the natural gas band wagon. We just can’t get rid of this good news municipal government. The federal government overstepped there bounds and became corrupt and we tossed them out. In The United States of America the government lied to 300 million people with the now famous statement,“they have weapons of mass destruction.” And they thought they would get away with it. Now its we have to fight terrorists.

It would be interesting to see what would of happened if we took the billions spent on warfare and gone to the nations we are now fighting and said, “how can we help”. But that is not an option when you place profits ahead of people. It is impossible to force a corrupt will on other Nations. Hitler tried it but the farm boys from the prairies and the hobo jungles of Canada thought him different Did we learn anything from World War II ? The last issue of Maclean’s magazine has the bold head line WORLD WAR III. Or will the old cliche hold true, “those who do not learn from history will repeat history”.

You do not even have to pay attention to past history.
The saying is "History repeats itself."
Hang in there and you will have the opportunity to live the mistakes of the past-maybe over and over!!

Just a clarification: BC is a Net Importer of electricity (see link below). That means that we generate LESS than we use. If we stopped all electricity flowing across our borders, the lights would not stay on. This is not some PR hocus-pocus, but a simple fact.

BC does sell power to the US, but we buy more than we sell. The reason for this is that electricity is much less expensive at off-peak hours than during peak hours. By being able to store water (water = power), we are able to effectively buy power cheap from Alberta's Coal and Oil plants all night, "store it in our dams" (that is use the cheap imported power, then generate power with our dams during peak hours and sell the surplus to California, WA, Alta, etc. at peak-hour (higher) prices. Thus, BC Hydro (Powerex) turns a profit, which gives you and me inexpensive electricity. Please note that consumers pay less for power than BC Hydro is paying for it from new generation projects.

http://www.bchydro.com/news/2006/mar/release43489.html

Just a clarification: BC is a Net Importer of electricity (see link below). That means that we generate LESS than we use. If we stopped all electricity flowing across our borders, the lights would not stay on. This is not some PR hocus-pocus, but a simple fact.

BC does sell power to the US, but we buy more than we sell. The reason for this is that electricity is much less expensive at off-peak hours than during peak hours. By being able to store water (water = power), we are able to effectively buy power cheap from Alberta's Coal and Oil plants all night, "store it in our dams" (that is use the cheap imported power, then generate power with our dams during peak hours and sell the surplus to California, WA, Alta, etc. at peak-hour (higher) prices. Thus, BC Hydro (Powerex) turns a profit, which gives you and me inexpensive electricity. Please note that consumers pay less for power than BC Hydro is paying for it from new generation projects.

http://www.bchydro.com/news/2006/mar/release43489.html

Yamadama,

You should try and sell those magazines on Ebay. You might get some serious $$$$ for them. Like PT Barnum said........

I'll just keep them, thanks. I've read them from cover to cover and reread them again. Some of it's pretty hoky but honest. The ads are pretty neat.

Yama,

I know what you mean. I have a ton of sports magazines from the 70's and 80's and its interesting to read them and see how things have changed since then.

So again i cannot find a single piece of paper showing the flooding of HWY 97.....so would someone that says its really going to be flooded please tell me where i can find this document?

Thanks

Dfriedman, I have a bridge for sale. Would you like to buy it?

"buy power cheap from Alberta's Coal and Oil plants "

Ah, so BC is responsible for encouraging electricity production using fossil fuels .....

For many reasons, it is then time to build that dam!!!!!

Note that coal plants are not able to shut down when demand is low, and restart in the morning when all the lights come on. Thermal generation stations (coal, oil, LNG, nuclear, etc.) are not well suited to load following, they like to run steady - all the time.

Alberta would run those plants all night whether we bought the juice or not; we buy their off-peak power for $40/Mwh and sell it back to them in the morning for $70/Mwh. That's the beauty of Hydro, it's there when you need it, and not when you don't.

Did anyone catch the friday afternoon chat on CBC radio about BC hydro?
It was very good IMO.
If you missed it maybe try to see if its on the CBC.ca website.


Cheers