IPPBC - Independent Power Producers Association of BC

Campbell River Mirror
30-Apr-2008

Chief sees red over "green power" criticism

By Paul Rudan

As New Democrat MLAs condemned the privatization of B.C. power projects, the elected chief of the Klahoose First Nation sat at the back of the meeting and stewed.

"We need to put the public interest first," said MLA Shane Simpson, the NDP critic of the environment, "and we best manage it through BC Hydro."

The New Democrats held a public meeting last Thursday at the Coast Discovery Inn to discuss the growing number of independent power projects happening all across the province.

They are holding meetings in other cities as well because, they say, the B.C. Liberal government isn't doing much to inform the public. North Island MLA Claire Trevena chaired the meeting which also featured MLA Joe Horgan who accused the government of secrecy and private power companies of slanting the truth.

"Run-of-the-river, what can be more benign than that?" he asked. "There's nothing green about run-of-the-river systems."

East of Campbell River, across the Strait of Georgia and Discovery Island group, Plutonic Power Corporation has begun construction of its "green power corridor."

The public company has secured $600 million in financing through General Electric and has also signed economic agreements with local First Nations, including the Klahoose band based on Cortes Island.

Ken Brown is the elected chief of the Klahoose and he attended Thursday's meeting. But he left angry after he wasn't recognized or given the chance to ask the panel any questions.

"All they did was perpetuate more myths. It was appalling and there was no reference to First Nations," he told the Mirror on Friday. "Ultimately, they (NDP) are trying to compromise our economic opportunities."

Plutonic has signed agreements with the Klahoose and other bands on the Sunshine Coast to develop run-of-the-river hydro projects at the headwaters of the Toba Inlet on the East Toba River and Montrose Creek.

The company has also begun talks with the Homalco First Nation about developing another project in Bute Inlet.

Plutonic's deals provide the bands with financial compensation, training and jobs.

For the roughly 300 members of the Klahoose, it gives them an unprecedented economic opportunity as well as a legacy fund to support future generations.

"We're going to be a prosperous band," said Chief Brown. "How can you have culture if you can't pay the rent? Strong cultures and strong economies run parallel."

The lengthy and ongoing treaty negotiations with government isn't helping the band, he added, but the Plutonic deal is already providing them with cash.

This will allow the band to seek other opportunities in forestry and aquaculture.

"(Plutonic) has honoured every commitment. They've exceeded all expectations," he stated.

However, the NDP maintain that independent power generation will mean bigger costs for British Columbians.

"If you look at your BC Hydro bill, it's been creeping up and it's going to creep up more in the next 12 months," said Horgan.

He added the government is misguided in its policy to be energy self-sufficient by 2016. Right now, B.C. is a net importer of power, but that's because "we buy when it's cheap and sell when it's high," Horgan pointed out.

The government has also collared BC Hydro by not allowing the public utility to develop its own power projects. Instead, the Liberals have handed the opportunity to private companies to invest and profit in hydro projects.

Alternative energy consists of solar, wind, refuse burning, and tidal power, but the current rage in B.C. is the construction of run-of-the-river projects (see above). More than 8,000 river systems have been identified as potential sites for such projects and the province has issued 500-600 water licences to private companies.

However, the NDP acknowledged that most of the projects will not be built and they were supportive of "properly situated" run-of-the-river projects.

"This isn't about saying no to run-of-the-river," said Simpson, who stressed the need for more public consultation and investigation to determine the cumulative effects of such projects.

MLA Horgan suggested that instead of handing the opportunities to corporations, municipalities could develop their own energy projects while working in conjunction with First Nations.

"Right now there's no public benefit. Is this where we want to go?" he asked.

For Chief Brown the answer is easy. Historically, he said, BC Hydro has done little to help First Nations.

Instead, the public utility built huge dams on the Columbia and Peace rivers that flooded vast aboriginal territories, and provided First Nations people with no meaningful compensation.

"What has BC Hydro ever done for First Nations?" he asked.

In next week's Mirror read more about the run-of-the-river project underway in Toba Inlet.