BC groups working on this issue
BC Citizens for Public Power
www.citizensforpublicpower.ca
BC Creek Protection Society
www.bc-creeks.org
Canoe Kayak BC
www.canoekayakbc.ca/index.php
COPE 378 – Take Back the Power Campaign
www.publicpowerbc.ca
Burke Mountain Naturalists
www.bmn.bc.ca
Private Power Watch
www.privatepowerwatch.com
Outdoor Recreation Council of BC
www.orcbc.ca
RainCoast Conservation Foundation
http://raincoast.org
Save Our Rivers Society
www.ourrivers.ca
T. Buck Suzuki Foundation
http://bucksuzuki.org
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
www.watershed-watch.org
West Kootenay Ecosociety
eco.kics.bc.ca/campaigns.html
Wilderness Committee
www.wildernesscommittee.org
White Water Kayaking Association of BC
www.whitewater.org
References
1 Water licenses are required for the development of private hydro projects. Although a water license may generate tens of millions of dollars annually for a private power producer, the top price for a water license under these agreements is just $10,000.
2 Independent Power Producers Association of BC. Map – IPP Projects in BC. http://www.ippbc.com/media/IPP%20Map_2007_05_16_Sec.pdf
3 Mean Annual Discharge: The discharge, if continued uniformly, would result in the same volume as that actually observed for one year. It is important to note that 80 – 90 % of the mean annual discharge (MAD) does not include the minimal amount required to meet fish flows.
4 The BC Conservation Service undertook an investigation into the incident at Miller Creek. As of Jan 21, 2008, the time this paper went to press, the investigation had not yet been completed.
5 BC’s lack of safeguards for terrestrial species was reported on in a Tyee article, “BC’s Hinterlands are Opened Up for Business”, (http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/10/17/RiverPower/) in which Ross Neuman, head of the ecosystems section of the Ministry of Environment’s environmental stewardship division said, “We have guidelines that we wish proponents to follow when they do an assessment of potential impacts to fisheries, but we don’t have any guidelines at this time for proponents when assessing impacts to wildlife or any other non-fish species.”
6 West Coast Environmental Law. Deregulation Backgrounder – Bill 38 the New Environmental Assessment Act. http://www.wcel.org/deregulation/bill38.pdf
7 A megawatt (MW) produces roughly enough energy to power 500 homes.
8 British Columbia. BC Hydro. BC Hydro’s Annual Report 2007.
http://www.bchydro.com/rx_files/info/info52808.pdf
9 Simpson, Scott, “Power line upgrades to cost B.C. consumers” Vancouver Sun, January 10, 2008, A1
10 British Columbia. BC Hydro. 2007 Electricity Conservation Potential Review. Report. http://www.bchydro.com/rx_files/info/info54519.pdf
11 Simpson, Scott, “Power line upgrades to cost B.C. consumers” Vancouver Sun, January 10, 2008
12 COPE 378. Take Back the Power. Website. “Sunshine Coast and Powell River IPP – In bed with government?” http://www.publicpowerbc.ca/rivers-for-generations/your-rivers/sunshine
Credits
Research & Writing: Gwen Barlee
Editing: Matthew Sasaki and Andrew Radzik
Mapping: Geoff Senichenko
Design: Gil Aguilar
Photos: WC files except where noted.
Web Publishing 2008: Gil Aguilar
Special thanks to Elaine Golds, Mark Haddock, Craig Orr, Craig Williams and Lee-Ann Unger for their thoughtful comments.
Western Canada Wilderness Committee Vol. 27, No 2. Winter/Spring 2008. Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 0900567. Posted in Vancouver for free distribution. Printed in Canada at FSC-recognized Mitchell Printers on partial recycled stock with vegetable-based inks. Press Run 80,000 © Wilderness Committee 2008. All rights reserved. Written material may be used without permission when credit is given. Distribution: Brian@gold-distribution.com
Published by
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
227 Abbott Street, Vancouver BC V6B 2K7
T: 604-683-8220 F: 604-683-8229
www.wildernesscommittee.org
