The British Columbia government has approved construction of the controversial Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River at an estimated cost of $8.8 billion.
Construction of the dam, near Fort St. John, is expected to begin next summer and be completed by 2024.
During the announcement, B.C. premier Christy Clark said the hydroelectric dam would be the cheapest option for the province’s growing energy demands.
“We need to ensure there is power, clean, reliable, sustainable power,” she said.
The Site C dam will be the third hydroelectric dam on the Peace River downstream from the W.A.C Bennett and Peace Canyon dams. The Site C project is estimated to generate 1,100 megawatts of capacity, enough to power the equivalent of 450,000 homes, about eight percent of the province’s electricity needs.
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A long-term supply of electricity is key to B.C.’s growth, said Clark.
“Affordable, reliable, clean electricity is the backbone of British Columbia’s economy,” said Clark in a news conference.
“Site C will support our quality of life for decades to come and will enable continued investment and a growing economy.”
Clark said the new dam should ensure that electricity rates in B.C. remain one of the lowest in North America and should attract industrial customers.
“In order for our economy to grow we need to ensure there is power.”
There is plenty of opposition to the dam. Already five lawsuits have been launched opposing the dam’s construction, which would flood 13,500 acres of land, including prime agriculture land and land belong to First Nations in the region.
A joint panel review on the dam released its report this spring. It said the dam would cause significant damage to wildlife, farmers and other users and listed 80 conditions that must be met before construction begins.
Contact Mary.macarthur@producer.com
