BC Hydro Calls For Green Proposals

Opportunity for "Green" Generation Project Developers

Vancouver, B.C. -- BC Hydro is inviting power developers in B.C. to submit proposals for new "green" resources energy generation projects. The call for proposals is directly linked to BC Hydro's Integrated Electricity Plan (IEP) Update, which outlines that 10 per cent of all BC Hydro's new generation resource acquisitions will be new green resources. Examples of new green resources currently available in B.C. are small hydro and woodwaste.

BC Hydro will review the proposals to determine if they meet the company's criteria of new "green" which includes; being renewable, socially responsible, licensable, and having a low environmental impact. As well, the project design should be at the stage where the power developer has confidence in its costs and its ability to obtain approvals, proposals should have the financial capability to succeed, have credible operating projections of output, and assurance that socio-economic benefits and environmental issues have been addressed. Project emphasis should be on providing green resources energy at a competitive commercial value. After the preliminary screening process, the companies submitting the top proposals will be invited to enter into competitive negotiations.

"BC Hydro's foundation is in hydroelectricity, a renewable resource which gives us a strong base from which to broaden our clean, new green, renewable energy generation," said BC Hydro President and CEO Michael Costello. "We believe B.C.'s private sector has the skills and resources to develop new green generation projects to meet our 10 per cent target on terms attractive to BC Hydro."

BC Hydro has enough resources to meet projected electricity demand for at least the next five to seven years. However, by 2007, BC Hydro will need to acquire new resources in order to meet customers' needs. The IEP identifies combined cycle gas turbines as that resource, complemented by the 10 per cent green resources energy acquisition. The 10 per cent new green resources energy commitment will translate to an average of 15 megawatts (MW) per year, or 1100-1200 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2010, enough electricity to meet the needs of 100,000 homes for one year.

Source: B.C. Hydro

CONTACT: Elisha Odowichuk Public Affairs Coordinator Phone: (604) 623-4099