Following the announcement by the provincial government this morning that it will move forward with the Site C dam proposal in northeastern BC the Wilderness Committee voiced its opposition to the massive 900 megawatt hydroelectric project. 

“First, we don’t need this project in BC. Big dams have enormous environmental footprints. If Site C proceeds it would flood thousands acres of prime agricultural land and impact wildlife migration corridors.  The project also has a $6.6 billion price tag and the power isn’t even needed in BC,” said Gwen Barlee, Policy Director with the Wilderness Committee.

The controversial Site C proposal has been on the books for years but has not been built because of its high economic and environmental costs. The dam, which would be situated just a few kilometers east of Fort St. John, would be almost a kilometer in length and would flood over 7,000 acres of Class 1 and 2 agricultural land. The reservoir would be 83 kilometers long. The Peace River region is already home to two other massive dams: the WAC Bennett Dam and the Peace Canyon Dam.

“Site C is not about green energy. It actually looks like much of the electricity from Site C will be used to develop gas fields in Northern BC, which will then be used to power the Tar Sands,” said Joe Foy, National Campaign Director with the Wilderness Committee.

“The BC government also said in this year's Throne Speech that Site C power will be used to back-up and firm intermittent private power. Site C is clearly not about BC’s energy needs, it is about powering dirty fossil fuel projects and providing a massive subsidy to the private power sector which is funded on the back of British Columbians,” said Foy.

In 2003, natural shale gas fields were discovered just north of Fort Nelson. Local environmentalists familiar with the issue believe that a substantial amount of the electricity from Site C would be used to power the Horn River shale gas field. It is also anticipated that much of the Horn River gas is slated for the Tar Sands.

Another controversial aspect to Site C is the fact that the firm and dependable power produced by the megadam will be used to “shape and firm” the intermittent electricity from private power projects resulting in a massive public subsidy to private power producers.

“If the environmental and regulatory review looks at the facts instead of the BC government’s spin, the Site C project won’t be going ahead. It makes no sense from an environmental or economic perspective. It’s going to take a massive public backlash to stop this terrible project, but I think British Columbians are up to the task,” said Barlee.

For more information please contact:

Gwen Barlee, Wilderness Committee Policy Director, 604-202-0322 or 604-683-8220
Joe Foy, Wilderness Committee Campaign Director, 604-880-2580 or 604-683-8220

Write a letter to Premier Campbell and let him know what you think about the Site C Dam.