News Archive Article

BC Hydro Welcomes Joint Review Panel Process for Site C

VANCOUVER - - BC Hydro today welcomed the announcement that a draft agreement has been developed by the federal and provincial governments for a harmonized environmental review of the Site C Clean Energy Project Site C. The draft agreement includes a joint review panel process for Site C, and initiates the environmental assessment.

"We are pleased that the Site C project has been referred to a joint review panel, and we look forward to commencing what will be a rigorous and independent process,” said Dave Cobb, CEO of BC Hydro. “The environmental assessment for Site C will provide multiple opportunities for consultation and input by the public, communities, Aboriginal groups, and stakeholders.”

As part of the environmental assessment of Site C, BC Hydro will identify and assess potential project effects — environmental, economic, social, heritage and health — and opportunities to provide lasting benefits for the region and First Nations. Where effects cannot be avoided, BC Hydro will identify and evaluate options for mitigation.

The Site C project requires environmental certification and other regulatory permits and approvals before it can proceed to construction. In addition, the Crown has a duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Aboriginal groups.

BC Hydro forecasts that electricity demand in the province will increase by approximately 40 per cent in the next 20 years, and new sources of clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity will be required.

“We are proposing to construct the Site C project as part of our overall regeneration program to invest in and renew the province’s electricity system,” said Cobb.

Site C would also contribute to economic development by creating approximately 7,000 person-years of direct construction employment through the seven-year construction period. The project is estimated to create up to 35,000 direct and indirect jobs through all stages of development and construction.

BC Hydro has adopted a multi-stage approach for the evaluation of Site C. The project is currently in Stage 3, Environmental and Regulatory Review. This stage includes an independent environmental assessment process led by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office. The multi-stage process provides the Province with milestones for assessing the project and deciding whether to proceed to the next stage.

Related News

California Skirts Blackouts With Heat Wave to Test Grid Again

LOS ANGELES - California narrowly avoided blackouts for a second successive day even as blistering temperatures pushed electricity demand to a record and stretched the state’s power grid close to its limits.

The state imposed its highest level of energy emergency for several hours late Tuesday and urged consumers to turn off lights, curb air conditioners and shut off power-hungry appliances after a day of extraordinary stress on electricity infrastructure as temperatures in many regions topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius).

Electricity use had reached 52 gigawatts Tuesday, easily breaking a record that stood since 2006, according to the California Independent System…

READ MORE
thermal energy to electricity

Turning thermal energy into electricity

READ MORE

EU Plans To Double Electricity Use By 2050

READ MORE

electricity changes

3 ways 2021 changed electricity - What's Next

READ MORE

Seamus Oregan

Affordable, safe' nuclear power is key to reaching Canada's climate goals: federal minister

READ MORE