We at the Common Sense Canadian will be dealing with the Site C project in some depth and from the outset we would like to acknowledge the tremendous work and research done by our colleague, well known economist Erik Andersen, who cut his professional teeth dealing with government spending.
I would like to test a theory of mine, namely, that the Site C project does not pass the “simple question” test.
Energy Minister Rich Coleman has stated that we need Site C because BC Hydro says our power needs will grow by 40% over the next 20 years
Given that BC Hydro’s projections from a decade ago proved to be exaggerated by 30%, as this report by Mr. Andersen clearly demonstrates…
Simple Question: why should we trust them now when they envision our needs rising 40% in the coming years?
Simple Answer: We don’t – and in a moment I’ll ask some more questions to show why that is.
The government has maintained that the private river power scheme will look after all our needs and, indeed, the estimates given show that just two of the largest ones together would exceed Site C’s output.
SQ: Why then do we need Site C?
SA: We don’t. But what Coleman’s statement does is clearly admit that the private power schemes which are or will be destroying our rivers will not produce power for BC Hydro; they cannot do so because most of their power comes during the spring run-off (when we need it least), so they cannot provide the year round power that Site C will.
Coleman again states that this will be clean, green energy.
SQ: How can you call a project that floods 5400 hectares of farmland and drives away the wildlife “clean and green”?
SA: You cannot, anymore than you can call private projects that destroy a river’s ecology “clean and green”. This is Orwellian “Newspeak”.
Coleman says the project will cost $7.9 billion.
SQ: Who are you kidding? When was the last time a government mega-project came in anywhere near on budget?
SA: When Noah built his ark…The Highway 1/Port Mann Bridge widening project was supposed to be $1.5
billion at first, then it was over $2 billion; now it’s $3.5 billion –
and we haven’t seen the end of it. The infamous convention centre budget doubled to nearly a billion dollars by its completion. Site C’s budget, meanwhile, just shot
up from $6 billion to $8 billion over the past year!
Given that the government has forced BC Hydro to make unconscionable, cozy contracts with private power producers (IPPs) which will now cost over the next 20-40 years some $50 billion…
SQ: Where is the money for Site C coming from?
SA: Surely there is no need to say out of the wallets of BC ratepayers and taxpayers.
Coleman says that Site C will produce electricity at between $87 and $95 per MWh – “compared to other resources at $129″
SQ: Mr. Coleman, do you realize that you have just admitted that IPPs are charging BC Hydro, on a take or pay basis, triple or more the market price and 10 times + what Hydro can make it for?
SA: You have proved, through your own words, what the Common Sense Canadian has been saying all along, and you have clearly admitted that your government has been lying through its teeth from the beginning! What does this say about your government’s honesty?
Coleman has said he’s thoroughly reviewing Hydro’s latest request for a rate increase.
SQ: How the hell do you have the nerve to utter this rot when you know that huge increases must come not only from, now, Site C, but also to cover the $50+ BILLION going to IPPS?
SA: That statement can only be made if you’re lying or an incompetent fool! Or both.
Coleman says that BC Hydro will hold the “required independent environmental assessment process” which will provide opportunities for public input.
SQ: Will these meetings permit people to object to the project itself? To demand evidence supporting the need for the project? And who chairs these independent meetings?
SA: Based upon past experience the assessment process will be chaired by a firm supporter of the project and any questions raised as to the need for the project will be ruled “out of order”.
Assuming that BC Hydro, being the astute business persons they are, will have big, energy requiring customers in mind…
SQ: How much of this electricity will be going to power coal mines, shale gas extraction and the Tar Sands? And will regular residential and business ratepayers be subsidizing this industrial power the way we do now – to the tune of a 50% + discount on what we all pay?
SA: That’s precisely what will happen and the government and BC Hydro will, using our dollars, power production of the dirtiest corporations on the face of this planet.
These are some of the areas of this project Damien and I will be canvassing.
What we can confidently say is that Mr. Coleman has, I’m sure unwittingly, demonstrated just what a royal screwing British Columbians are taking from the IPP contracts and that the Common Sense Canadian, in exposing the deceit and cynicism of this government, has been thoroughly vindicated. Now they want us to help them compound their sins!
Incompetent governments are usually run by honest people who are stupid; with this government we not only have incompetence but corruption as well.
MDW, my family lost its ranch on the Peace for WAC Bennett Dam – and I’d hate to see that happen again, especially for no good reason. You assume that we do need more power and that Site C is a good way to provide it – both of which are incorrect. It’s not your fault – that’s all you’ve been hearing from the mainstream media and this government. But it’s utter bullshit. Check out this 2 min video explaining why: https://commonsensecanadian.ca/834-video-joe-foy-why-we-dont-need-site-c
You make a serious mistake assuming we always need more, more, more of everything…you know, just ‘cuz.
I live in the Peace Region. Why do you people only want any kind of big development in the lower mainland? Also, I think we have a choice, one a new dam, or two a nuclear power plant!! If you don’t want a dam on the Peace River, then let’s put a nuclear power plant down south!!! We are increasing our power usage!! Where do you want to get power from???
I thought that Site C was partly for backing up the energy from IPPs, (run -of-river, wind projects).
Site C would enable BC Hydro to firm-up more of the intermittent IPP energy. That would make it more viable for export. But I assume BC Hydro would still be exporting power to the U.S. for less than the cost of buying it from new IPPs.
I work in renewable energies and follow this stuff with some interest. Even a retired gov’t economist has stated publicly that Gord Campbell has put BC Hydro on the path to bankruptcy, justifying turning it over to private interests. It’s crazy.
We get people every day asking us how they can afford to get off the grid. Fact is… they can’t. Tax dollars are going to the same people that are making power unaffordable for the rest of us, while they profit. “The Grid” is a web to ensnarl us all.
Why not make the $8 billion for Site C available to households and business to convert to solar, wind, geothermal, microhydro, etc.? The incentive money could offset 25-30% of the cost to purchase and install the system. The combination of private, business and gov’t money could generate a $24-$32 billion dollar investment in our energy infrustructure. Better yet, the BC gov’t spends little or nothing on infrastructure or maintainance costs!
The roof of my rancher could hold enough solar panels to power 5 or 6 homes and boost a 21st century industry. With the governments ties to big business they can’t afford to give us that independence.
It is now a few days later….it appears the simple answer to my simple question about the official opposition getting a chance to raise these questions is……no
Thank you Rafe Mair for being willing to ask the questions not many British Columbians and Canadians seem to be asking. it seems that we have hit an all time low period of apathy in this country, where people no longer question anything as long as they can still go shopping.
There is no doubt that site C is not needed and that what is happening is back-room, closed door dealings between BC and industry on matters that affect all of our futures and all tax-payer’s wallets.
In the end, it is the people who will pay for this disaster. We need to see things as they really are and be willing to do our own research as it is obvious the government is not providing all necessary facts. We should be afraid…very afraid. Thanks.
SQ There are only 3 days left in the current sitting of the Provincial Legislature, will the official opposition ask these questions?
SA to be announced?
“Mair’s Minutemen” are awaiting response….the profits are obvious…..IPP’s get flipped for profit before they are even operating (eg. Stlixwim Hydro on the Sunshinie Coast is now part owned by PNG)
You’re correct, Hugh – that is one of the key exchanges through which we would sell that power. We’re conservatively saying we’re buying this power at more than triple the market price – but with the latest clean power call and Coleman’s own admission, that number is actually closer to 4-6 times the going rate. In other words, why would you ever build Site C – or private power projects? Some very bad decisions are being made on our behalf – and not due to incompetence, but rather corruption, as Rafe says.
Here’s the Mid-Columbia electricity market price for the past year (currently at $25/MWh):
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=ELGFMCON:IND
Averages $20-35/MWh.
When BC Hydro exports to the U.S., does it export near the Mid-C price?
Mid-C is NW USA.
I read quite some time back. The site C dam is for the dirty tar sands. Campbell and Harper have been working together on their project, to force the Enbridge pipeline and the dirty oil tankers from China, onto the province and the people living in our beautiful province. Harper was bad enough with his minority. With his majority, he is impossible. Harper is too arrogant and too stubborn, to get along with anyone. Wikileaks has said, the Americans say, Harper is a petty gasbag, as they were certainly fed up with him at the G20. He embarrassed Canada in Copenhagen . He lost Canada’s seat in the U.N. Harper is bad news for Canada, every which way we look. As a Canadians, i feel we are living in a fascist, dictatorship regime. Democracy and Freedom, is no longer honored by Harper. Our Civil Rights and Liberties, have been taken away from us. The American people say, Harper’s election win was rigged. I certainly agree with them. Over half of the Canadians people, did not want Harper as P.M. Harper was almost demented, rabid and frantic to win this election. He even begged for a majority. I smelled a rat.
Coleman(aka: Gordo’s 300 lb gorilla) has been making bad decisions for British Colombians since he has been in power.
His constituents are, in actuality, multi- national enviro-
carpetbaggers.
If C. Clark wants to “do something for “BCers” she’ll dump this thug out of cabinet.
Maybe not the pipeline itself, John, but it’s all connected. Some of this power may well go to the shale gas extraction in the Montney and Horn-Liard shale plays – and some of that gas will go to bitumen extraction in the Tar Sands, which will then go into the Enbridge pipeline. Some of the power from Site C could also end up in the grid, supllying Alberta with power for the Tar Sands as well. The point is NONE of this power is for you and me.
Is Site C being developed to provide power for the Enbridge pipeline.