Officials in the northeastern region of British Columbia are advocating for a new fund to provide compensation to local communities if the provincial government proceeds with a proposed fourth hydroelectric dam on the Peace River.
B.C. Hydro recently presented a public briefing to the Peace River Regional District regarding Site E, situated near the Alberta border to the north of Dawson Creek.
If the dam project is greenlit, Brad Sperling, the chair of the board, anticipates significant alterations to the local river system, resulting in the inundation of more residential areas, agricultural land, public parks, bridges, and impacting local water resources.
Sperling expressed concerns, stating, “There is no longer a Peace River. It’s going to be reservoirs from here to Finlay Bay.”
B.C. Hydro asserts that substantial new sources of reliable power are required to meet an anticipated 50% surge in power demand by 2050, largely due to industrial expansion.
Contrarily, Sperling argues that the extensive history of energy development in the area, including three existing dams on the Peace River and the ongoing establishment of large-scale wind farms, has already had enduring consequences.
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He suggests that the region should have a mechanism similar to the Columbia Basin Trust, established in 1995 to provide ongoing compensation to communities affected by dams on the Columbia River.
Presently, the trust holds assets exceeding $1.2 billion, according to recent filings.
Sperling remarked, “This is being done at the expense of the northeast. It is high time we receive proper economic benefits from the power generated in this area.”
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