The BC Utilities Commission’s long awaited final report in their Site C inquiry has been released.

The report only confirmed what most already feared regarding the costs of the controversial energy project.

Finishing the project at this point could see the project exceed its 8.3 billion dollar budget by more than 2 billion, though neither of the other two options are any more attractive. The option to delay the project until 2024 would add at least 3.6 billion in costs, while shutting it down would cost nearly 2 billion, and thousands of jobs.

While reactions to the report were mixed, most seemed to cling to the project’s downsides.

Galen Armstrong, of the Sierra Club, and Joe Foy, of the Wilderness Committee, cited the dam’s budgetary issues as a drain to the public wallet, while others hit the project for its environmental concerns. Foy also stated the success of the inquiry itself, saying it was a clear description of an elephant in the room from an independent source.

Not all were for the inquiry, however, as some pointed out its lack of clarity on the major issues.

Val Litwin, of the Chamber of Commerce, made sure to note that we can’t overlook the project’s impact on employment in BC as a factor in any final decision.

A decision is set to be made by the end of the year.

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