‘Totally irresponsible’: MLAs, TNRD board lament lack of oversight in BC Hydro wind farm approvals

In announcing the approvals, the province said it “intends to exempt these wind projects and all future wind projects in B.C. from environmental assessment.”

Stamer called that approach “totally irresponsible.”

“Yes, there are opportunities to move forward on some of these much-needed projects but to say that [the province] wouldn’t be doing any environmental assessments is totally wrong. It’s unacceptable,” Stamer told the board. “At the same time, we know the process [the government] had was very short. It was very narrow in scope.”

Approval of the wind farms does not bode well for operations like Atlantic Power in Williams Lake, said Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson. Atlantic Power produces electricity by burning biomass wood waste. In January, the company announced it intends to close the Williams Lake plant because it can’t be profitable under its current contract with BC Hydro.

Doerkson says the wind farm announcement this week puts Atlantic Power’s future in jeopardy.

“The Elephant Hill fire is currently being cleaned up and that is what we are using for fibre at plants like Atlantic Power. This is a green project,” said Doerkson. “These plants were built to generate power from waste from mills. It got rid of a beehive burner in Williams Lake. It’s shocking to me that we’re in this situation.”

“We will certainly be not only formulating a policy through our party, we will also be responding in kind and supporting all our residents,” added Stamer, “when it comes to any power generation or any projects of this size to make sure we are following the rules, we are taking enough time to consult and we’re doing it properly.”

by James Peters

‘Totally irresponsible’: MLAs, TNRD board lament lack of oversight in BC Hydro wind farm approvals

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