Response to Premier Clark’s Site C Letter
Today I received a letter from Premier Clark in which she requested I respond to questions regarding the construction of the Site C Dam.
Premier Clark’s letter follows one sent last week by John Horgan, leader of the B.C. NDP, to Jessica McDonald, President and CEO of B.C. Hydro, requesting the delay of the destruction of two homes pending future review of the Site C Dam by the B.C. Utilities Commission.
Last week, I signed a Confidence and Supply Agreement, indicating that the B.C. Green Caucus would support confidence and supply measures introduced by a potential B.C. NDP minority government. As part of the agreement, both parties agreed that the Site C Dam construction project should be referred to the BC Utilities Commission on the question of economic viability and consequences to British Columbians in the context of the current supply and demand conditions prevailing in the B.C. market. The B.C. Liberal government chose not to put the dam to independent evaluation by the BCUC before moving forward with the project.
Below is a copy of the letter that I sent back to Premier Clark.
June 6, 2017
The Honourable Christy Clark
Premier of British Columbia
West Annex
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Dear Premier Clark,
Thank you for your letter in response to Mr. Horgan’s request to delay the relocation of two homes pending future review of the Site C Dam by the BC Utilities Commission.
While I was neither privy to, nor involved in, writing Mr. Horgan’s letter to Ms. McDonald, you will know that for four years I have raised significant and substantive concerns regarding the economics of the Site C project.
Your government has chosen to proceed with the costliest public works project in BC history without adequately analysing its economic viability. Even the chair of the Federal-Provincial Joint Review Panel that reviewed the Site C Dam, Dr. Harry Swain, has criticised the process for not sufficiently evaluating the project’s economic case. In the face of these significant concerns, and despite numerous calls for an independent review by the BC Utilities Commissions, you are about to apparently move the project to the “point of no return”.
Please let me express my disappointment in how your government is choosing to proceed with this project. Your government is turning a significant capital project that potentially poses massive economic risks to British Columbians, into a political debate rather than one informed by evidence and supported by independent analysis.
Your letter asserts that delaying the relocation of two homes will cost BC Hydro ratepayers an estimated $600 million due to the project delay. You further request an indication of my position on the matter.
Before I can comment on these assertions, I require access to the supporting evidence, including but not limited to the signed contracts, the project schedule and the potential alternative project timelines that could allow an independent review to be conducted at minimal cost to the ratepayer.
In addition, I would need briefing notes on the status of existing delays including those associated with the stability of the north bank as well as the acquisition of and compliance with any environmental permits.
I would be pleased to answer your questions on the assumption that the information requested will be forthcoming in a timely manner.
Best wishes,
Dr. Andrew Weaver, OBC, FRSC
Leader, BC Green Party
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50 Comments
Excellent response. Has anyone thought about making all new construction be it residential or commercial buildings install solar power. The government could set up a rebate program on all these structures. The owners of said building would have cheap power and all overages are sold to BC Hydro. Of course they would have backup systems in place in case there isn’t enough sunshine. I haven’t crunched any numbers but watching documentaries and reading about it I am convinced it’s something to consider.
There are always devious ways to make things look good. Two years ago, a technical briefing from the government showed how cheap site C power would be after 2.6c/Kwh of escalation cost was transferred to the existing facilities. It appeared in very camouflaged language and the document is no longer available. Also 2 years ago a North Shore News article showed that we would be better of with wind power. Now we are stuck with having to export 8.6c/Kwh for 4c because without a global carbon tax that is what the market dictates. At 5100 Gwh/year that is an yearly loss of $234.6 million Just read that old newspaper. http://www.nsnews.com/opinion/letters/letter-wind-power-not-site-c-the-way-to-go-1.1940770
All Canadians have a voice in this needless project. Please demand an immediate stop to the Peace River Valley destruction. Every thing should be held up until the review is done which will shut it all down any way. Another needless waste of time and $$ wasted but at least stop the current destruction.
Thank you for joining the NDP in having some common sense that represents the people and NOT the bloody corporations that rape and pillage the landscape to line their 1% pockets.
Speak up for those with NO voice…the 4 legged, the finned and winged ones….DO WHAT IS RIGHT Andrew, thanks!!! Art Jackson.
Site C is a monument to C hristy C lark . It is more like an Egyptian pyramid than a hydro electric project . The “queen” is throwing away the efforts and productivity of her minions for an extended period far beyond her years as a legacy of constant debt and overpriced electricity . Locked into enduring contracts with “polirical contribution” corporations who would privatize our public power.
Dang if I had seen this sooner, I would have said could the Premier answer the Watershed and Water Sustainability Act Questions that were submitted to her and all other provincial party leaders and local riding candidates during the Election Campaign first.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Z2Ha9X1sxzRUNtMzVZZzZXVXc/view?usp=sharing
Andrew Weaver, MLA Oak Bay-Gordon Head Andrew Weaver very kindly responded as did the Green Party Candidate in Nanaimo – North Cowichan. Responses were pending from John Horgan and Doug Routley but the election call put those responses on hold. No responses from the Premier or the local Liberal candidate were ever received.
Site C has local watersheds and impacts written all over it!!!
I really need to know the particulars of a $600.m cost should there be a delay due to prudence. I also need to know why this project is being forced to a point of no return before a transition in Government.
The government has done a great number of analyses on this project. The benefits outweigh the costs. Doing one more analysis will not change the result. Just cost us more money. Lets get this valuable project completed.