News Release

BC government’s argument for Site C dam doesn’t hold water, says Wilderness Committee

VANCOUVER – In the wake of yet another damning report on the BC government’s plan to flood the Peace River Valley to produce hydroelectricity, the Wilderness Committee is calling for the Site C dam project to be shelved for good.

“This week’s presentation of a report by US energy economist Robert McCullough was a real eye-opener that showed just how badly put together the Site C dam plan is,” said Joe Foy, Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director.

The Peace Valley Landowners Association (PVLA) had commissioned Mr. McCullough to look at the business case for the Site C dam. McCullough’s findings demonstrate major flaws in the BC government’s cost assumptions for the proposal, and indicate that other renewable power options – including wind and geothermal energy – could be much less expensive than Site C.

“Simply put, Mr. McCullough’s report shows that the Site C dam project is far more expensive and risky than has been admitted by the BC government to date,” said Foy. “The paying public has been kept in the dark about the true costs of the dam.”

The McCullough report is just the latest in a long line of dam-busting criticisms of the Site C project.
For example, the environmental review panel that studied Site C said that the need for power from the Site C dam was not proven at this time. The panel also recommended that an independent review be conducted on BC Hydro’s cost estimates, energy demand forecasts and conservation plan.

However, the BC government responded to the panel by expressly forbidding any regulatory review by the BC Utilities Commission, the independent body that should have reviewed Site C’s business case, even though it is the most costly publicly-funded project in the province.

There are now seven court challenges against the project by local landowners and First Nations, who are aghast at the shoddy planning and severe damages that would occur if the Site C dam were to be built and the Peace River Valley flooded.

“It’s time to pull the plug on the Site C dam project,” said Foy.

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For more information, please contact:

Joe Foy | National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee – 604-683-8220 (office), 604-880-2580 (cell)

Additional resources:

Site C Business Case Assumptions Review by US Economist Robert McCullough
http://sitecquiz.com/ 

Photo: Press conference in Vancouver to present the findings of economist Robert McCullough on the Site C dam, May 26, 2015 (Joe Foy).