Concerned about private power interests, NDP calls for repeal of bill 30

With the opposition NDP offering up some concern about the “wholesale giveaway” of BC’s rivers through a number of private power projects, the debate over who should control the electrical production capabilities in the province is heating up.

The provincial government recently turned back an application for a run of river power project on the lower mainland’s Pitt River. Opponents to that project were aghast that the province was seeking to allow a private energy contractor to target a pristine wilderness area for electrification.

To that end, the MLA for the North Coast, Gary Coons has called for the repeal of Bill 30, which took out the need for community oversight on power projects.

The success of turning back the Pitt River project, has many suggesting that the government should re-examine all of its power initiatives both based on the provinces rivers and in its offshore and land based wind farm projects, of concern locally are the power projects on the Khyex, Skeena and Nascall rivers as well as the controversial Banks Island project off shore of the North coast.

The Daily News featured details on the projects and the increasing pressure to change the dynamic that they are progressing under.

MLA WANTS B. C. TO POWER-DOWN PRIVATE HYDRO PROJECTS
Coons says more information needed before new projects get the green light
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Pages one and three

North Coast MLA Gary Coons is joining New Democrats across the province in calling for a moratorium on future private power projects until an independent investigation into their social and environmental costs and benefits is completed.

He also wants Bill 30, which removed community oversight from new energy projects, to be repealed.

"There is a lot of concern in communities around the province that the government is charging forward recklessly with these drastic and environmentally destructive projects," said Coons. "We see examples like the Ashlu River, near Squamish, where the character of the area has been completely changed. Residents there were opposed to the project, but the government introduced Bill 30 and steamrolled over their concerns."

Coons says he is particularly concerned about two possible developments in his own constituency, one on the Skeena and Khyex rivers, and another on the Nascall River, near Bella Bella, affecting both the Heiltsuk and Nuxalk Nations.

"It would be wrong to allow the same level of devastation on the Skeena and Nascall as has been seen on rivers like the Ashlu," said Coons.

"Businesses rely on the revenue brought into this region through the sport and commercial fishery, and the tourists attracted by the natural beauty of this area. It would be unforgivable to proceed with projects that could put those values at risk."

The B.C. Liberals were scheduled to debate a motion in support of the private power projects earlier this week, but backed down at the last minute. Coons believes this indicates that the Liberals are acknowledging that the "wholesale giveaway" of B.C.'s rivers is the wrong strategy to provide power for the province.

"The Campbell government is giving away rivers in pristine wilderness areas to benefit corporate interests and I'm amazed that the government has allowed the process to go as far as it has," said Coons. "It's not too late to stop the privatization of our rivers."

Although Environment Minister Barry Penner withdrew his support of the proposed Pitt River run-of-river projects after he was faced with overwhelming public opposition, there are still many applications for similar projects around the province that are at various stages of completion.

"People don't just want the government to back down on this one project. Overwhelmingly, people want the government to step back and re-examine the policies that allowed the Pitt River proposal to go forward as far as it did," said Coons.

"They want a return to local control over developments that will impact communities; they want strong legislation that protects wilderness values and promotes public power."

Environmental groups also recently pointed out their concerns with plans for independent wind power projects on the North Coast located in newly established reserves on Banks Island. Under the Land Resource Management Plans, these new areas do not allow mining or forestry, but do allow for independent power projects such as wind farms and the associated infrastructure needed to link up with the British Columbia Transmission Corporation lines.