The massive Site C dam project in B.C. Peace region has taken a step forward as B.C. Hydro has submitted its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed project to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office.
"This is an important milestone for the Site C project," according to a BC Hydro statement.
The EIS describes the project rationale, potential effects and proposed measures to avoid or mitigate these effects. It also includes the benefits Site C would provide to customers, Aboriginal and northern communities and the province as a whole.
The project requires environmental certification and other regulatory permits and approvals before construction begins. In addition to this, the Crown has a duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate First Nations.
However, Western Investor has learned that BC Hydro has already purchased about 200 acres of industrial land in and near Fort St. John, the centre closest to the project. And the B.C. government appears to well onboard with the proposal.
"The Site C project would provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity for 100 years," said Rich Coleman, B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas. " The development and construction of Site C is expected to create approximately 33,000 jobs and contribute $3.2 billion to provincial GDP."
The filing of the EIS begins an extensive, independent review process, including review by the government-led Advisory Working Group and an independent Joint Review Panel. The review includes opportunities for public input, including future public hearings under the Joint Review Panel.
According to B.C. Hydro, the $6.6 billion project, which would be the third dam on the Peace River, would provide 1,100 megawatts (MW) of capacity, and produce about 5,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity each year - enough energy to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes per year in B.C.
