Editor:
Don’t believe the mistruths being spread by the NDP about Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and run-of-river power generation.
Our hydro resources are not being privatized.
Run-of-river projects operate under water licences typically lasting for 25 to 40 year terms.
At that time the water rights and any improvements on the land revert to the Crown, which means back into the hands of British Columbians.
There are 32 run-of-river power projects currently operating in B.C. and another 32 under development.
In total, run-of-river projects impact less than 0.03 per cent of B.C.’s rivers that are of sufficient size to support hydro development and there are over 290,000 rivers that qualify in B.C.
All IPP projects, including run-of river projects, are subject to rigorous environmental approvals which may include the BC Environmental Assessment process, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Process, the Water Act, and the Land Act to ensure that only the best projects with the lowest possible environmental impacts move forward.
Since 2001, BC Hydro’s signed contracts to purchase over 7,477 gigawatt hours of electricity from IPPs, enough to power 679,689 homes per year and currently IPPs provide almost 13 per cent of B.C.’s domestic electricity consumption.
These projects bring investment and jobs into our rural communities, helping to support sustainable economies with steady revenue streams and building capacity in our communities.
Working collaboratively with the private sector can help build our energy legacy by delivering innovative, small scale, clean power projects.
If elected, the NDP would put a moratorium on all IPPs which means British Columbians would be out of jobs as well as much needed power production.
Last month, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan admitted his leader would have rejected a $150-million project that the BC Liberal government has approved in the Fraser Canyon, despite acknowledging it is “absolutely” a good project that will create 120 jobs in partnership with local First Nations.
The reality is that British Columbians’ demand for power keeps growing and to meet that need we have to explore clean, green alternatives in power generation including Independent Power Production.
Ultimately, we do need to look at how much power each of us use and make a focused effort to reduce our power consumption so we do not have to continually look for ways to meet the forever increasing demand.
John Slater,
Boundary Similkameen BC Liberal Candidate
