NO to transmission lines in BC's parks
The BC Government is moving ahead aggressively with some aspects of its energy agenda. BC Hydro has already written something like 70 electricity purchase agreements (EPAs) with independent power producers (IPPs), most of which are small hydro (as described in my River of Riches article published in the January-February 2007 issue of Watershed Sentinel.)
As emphasized in the article, the transmission lines that come with these projects are likely to have as great an environmental impact as the river diversion and generation facilities.
With Bill 30, which removed local authority for generation projects, we witnessed how the government responds when thwarted by local government.
Well, there's another issue - transmission lines through parks.
The Upper Pitt River Power Project is a proposed complex of seven small hydro projects on tributaries of the Upper Pitt River. It is currently in pre-application status for an environmental assessment (EA). Two transmission options are presented, one of which is drawn across Pinecone Burke Park on its 42 km run to Squamish, and a 54 km, partly underwater, route south.
Run of River Power is the proponent for the project.
The government and the IPP community need to know that parks are off limits for transmission lines, power stations, and any other components in the energy agenda.
In the EA process, draft terms of reference will be posted soon, and the process will then open up for public comments. You don't need to wait until then.
The Burke Mountain Naturalists have written to Environment Minister Barry Penner. Their excellent letter is here.
Parks are not just another piece of Crown land to be exploited when its opportune to do so.
Here are the links:
www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/html/deploy/epic_project_home_291.html
www.runofriverpower.com
www.watershedsentinel.ca
Friends of the Campaign for BC Parks