Local farmers don't want it; First Nations in the area don't want it

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) -  As the cost of the BC Hydro Site C Dam rises from six billion to eight billion dollars, critics wonder if it's really necessary, saying we should be looking at other forms of energy.
Tria Donaldson with the Wilderness Committee says BC has plenty of generating power for at least the next 20 years.

"We can do solar, we can do geothermal. We're not looking at all of our options right now, and we're basically going with the ones that cost the most."

NDP Energy Critic John Horgan says it's the general public that's going to be hit hard in the pocketbook eventually.

"When you spend this kind of money, there's only one place to get it from and that's from ratepayers. So for BC Hydro to say that there's not going to be an impact tomorrow, it's correct," says Horgan. "But there is going to be an impact down the road, and they should be honest and upfront about that."

Some locals also say if the dam is built, it will ruin perfectly good farmland and homesteads that have been in the area for decades.

Dave Conway with BC Hydro says, "It's included in the 7.9 billion dollars, so those sort of contingencies, potential legacy benefit for the region, potential mitigation."

But he doesn't say how much of that budget will go to compensating First Nations or those who lose their land.

The project is in the environmental assessment stage, which could go on for two years.