Hydro pulls plug on dam project, for now

B.C. Hydro has called off the launch of its 20-year plan to generate more power, which included the controversial Site C dam on the Peace River in northeastern B.C.

• FROM APRIL 2, 2004: Site C dam plan back on the table

Peace River

But in a written statement, Hydro president Bob Elton says the corporation has decided, in conjunction with the B.C. government, to postpone the unveiling until the new year.

Elton says he wants to make sure the plan meets the needs of ratepayers.

But energy analyst David Austin, a Vancouver lawyer who represents independent power producers, says Hydro simply hasn't done enough analysis to support the controversial Site C plan.

"And it comes as no surprise to me that the government has taken a look at this and said, 'Sorry folks, this doesn't meet the hurdle established for good analysis.'"

It's been estimated that Site C would cost more than $2 billion. But Austin says Hydro simply doesn't have hard cost figures.

"They're comparing apples to oranges and grapefruit and bananas and whatever else, but they really don't have solid cost information on any of the products they're doing the comparison to."

• LINK: B.C. Hydro background on its Integrated Energy Plan

An earthfill dam would be built across the Peace River, about seven kilometres southwest of Fort St. John, flooding thousand of hectares of land and forcing the relocation of families living in the area.

• INTERVIEW: B.C. Almanac's Mark Forsythe speaks with Gwen Johnson of Hudson's Hope, a long-time critic of the project.