Industry Facts:

1. There are 43 IPPs operating in BC, equally distributed between; Vancouver Island, Southwest Mainland, Southeastern Interior and north of Williams Lake.
2. BC IPPs currently generate 5,000 GWh of electricity - enough to supply 500,000 homes in BC.
3. BC IPPs provide approximately 1,000 MW – 9% of BC’s 11,000 MW total system capacity.
4. IPPs are independent from government and are power producers rather than self-generators (like pulp mills and mines).
5. Self-generators (like pulp mills) produce electricity largely for their own consumption rather than for the BC grid.
6. BC IPPs current generation of 5,000 GWh is 9% of BC’s domestic electricity load, up from 7% in 2001.
7. The total current construction value of BC’s 43 IPP project is ~ $2 billion.
8. BC IPPs have created 4,000 person-years of construction employment since 1990.
9. There has never been an IPP built for export in the province. BC Hydro has been exporting power to the U.S. for decades.
10. BC’s currently operating green IPP projects have already enabled an annual reduction of 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG) that would otherwise have resulted from BC importing more power from coal-fired plants
11. If GHG reduction laws arrive that require BC Hydro to mitigate all GHGs from imported coal-fired power (to the extent predicted by BC Hydro), then BC’s currently operating green IPP projects would save BC ratepayers $200 million per year, by their generation of GHG-free energy.

Technology/Fuel Sector Facts:

1. BC Hydro’s 2002 study revealed BC’s potential small hydro capacity was 2,454 MW.
2. BC Hydro’s 2005 IEP declared there are nearly 900 small hydro sites that have the hydrological potential to be developed.
3. Hydro IPPs in BC now generate 1,550 GWh of green energy each year offsetting the creation of 450,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions by typical thermal power plants.
4. Landfill gas IPPs in Victoria and Vancouver generate 70 GWh of green energy each year offsetting 50,000 tonnes per year of CO2 emissions.
5. There are no wind turbines producing electricity for BC’s grid, but IPPs have filed Investigative Use Permits for over 135 potential sites since 2002.
6. Building 1000 GWh of run of river and wind IPP projects would enable BC Hydro to reduce the use of their 1960s-era Burrard Thermal plant located in Port Moody, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by 520,000 tonnes/year - the equivalent of taking 192,565 cars off the road each year.
7. 11 wind IPP developers have registered Letters of Interest for NRCan’s WPPI program for 28 projects in BC with an estimated total capacity of 3,072 MW.
8. Garrad Hassan, a leading international wind resource consultant, estimated, in 2005, that the potential for B.C. is 5,200 MW of installed capacity, producing 16,000 GWh/yr with a price range of approximately $50 to $150/MWh.

Project Facts:

1. The construction of a recent 7 MW run of river hydro project required an investment of $15 million, created 90 jobs, and paid $ 639,000 in provincial taxes and $537,000 in federal taxes (BC Stats econometric input/output, March, 2006).
2. Each year a typical 7 MW run-of-the-river project with a penstock that produces 35 GWh/yr will pay $67,000 in water rentals and $120,000 in property/school taxes (or $200,000 if located in a municipality rather than a Regional District), plus First Nations/Community Benefits payments, plus Provincial and Federal Income Taxes.
3. 34% of the electricity revenues received by a run-of-river IPP is paid back as taxes and levies to local, provincial, and federal authorities.
4. A 10 MW run of river project built in 2003 will pay about $20 million in direct taxes, fees, water rentals, and community benefits over the life of the project.
5. A run of river hydro project must obtain permits from more than 10 review agencies at both the federal and provincial levels, plus First Nations.  See attached List of 50+ Permits
6. Of the over 400 creeks that IPPs have filed Water License Applications on since 1990 - 34 have plants built.
7. The wood-waste fired Williams Lake Generating Station IPP shut down several beehive burners and reduced particulate emissions by over 95%.
8. The Vancouver Landfill Gas IPP draws off harmful methane gas and converts it to electricity and also to heat for a nearby greenhouse.
9. In April, 2007, the East Toba/Montrose Creek project received Environmental Certificate for its 196 MW run of river project. Its capital costs are approximately $450 mil. It is expected to create 650 person-years of employment during construction and 20 permanent positions during operations. The proponent anticipates paying approximately $1.4 mil. in local property taxes/yr, an average of $3.2 mil./yr in water rental fees, as well as applicable federal and provincial income taxes. 
10. The provincial environmental assessment certificate for East Toba/Montrose Creek contains 77 commitments that the proponent must implement throughout the various phases of the project. Some key commitments include:

• Mitigation measures to protect:
  • Wildlife and wildlife habitat, including observation of construction time windows.
  • Fish and fish habitat, including maintenance of safe water temperature levels and streamflow requirements.
• Protection of areas of cultural significance to the Klahoose First Nation, Sliammon First Nation and Sechelt Indian Band.
• Development and implementation of compensation and monitoring programs.
• Appointment of an environmental co-ordinator responsible for implementing and monitoring all environmental programs. 

11. If completed, the East Toba/Montrose project will help reduce BC’s reliance on imported electricity, without producing greenhouse gas emissions, by generating enough electricity in an average year to meet the needs of 70,000 homes. The proponent was offered an electricity purchase agreement to supply BC Hydro with electricity for 35 years as a result of the 2006 BC Hydro open call for power.

 12. The provincial environmental assessment certificate for the Bear Mountain Wind Farm contains 44 commitments
        that the proponent must implement throughout the various phases of the project.

13. More environmental assessment info on these and other projects can be found at
      http://www.ippbc.com/environmental_assessment_info_for_36_ipp_projects/