Island News & Views
General · 3rd March 2009
Friends of Bute Inlet
... to Canada's Largest Private Power Project
Quadra Island, BC – A standing room only crowd packed the Quadra Island Community Centre Sunday, March 1, proving the value and importance of a public process that almost didn't happen. The town hall meeting was hosted by the BC Environmental Assessment Office and chaired by local Strathcona Regional District Director Jim Abram.
Dozens of speakers came forward from the 340 local residents from many of the nearby islands that are most impacted by this proposal. Each expressed concern for Plutonic Power's proposed Bute Inlet hydroelectric project. As the meeting progressed a show of hands declared unanimous opposition to the project.
Many speakers questioned the economic justification for the project and called for alternative approaches to British Columbia's Energy Plan with more emphasis on conservation and reductions in consumption.
An experienced mountain guide gave a slide show that demonstrated the world class grandeur of the area and voiced apprehension about permanent visual impacts.Local fisherman spoke about the difficulty of determining existing fish populations in silt-laden waters and the need for multi-year baseline studies.Local loggers provided vivid descriptions about the hazards and challenges of operating in such rugged terrain with frequent catastrophic events and extreme weather conditions.
Disappointment was conveyed that the proponent, Plutonic Power declined to attend or send any representative to present the proposal or answer questions from the community most affected.
"What is needed is a land use plan for the Sunshine Coast to be completed, and there needs to be a comprehensive alternative energy planning process to determine the need, the best technology and the siting of any alternative power projects. There are better technologies that produce more power and more jobs while reducing our dependance on fossil fuels globally," said Jim Abram, Director for the islands and inlets of the Strathcona Regional District.
Unanswered questions include the validity of claims that this power generation will actually reduce the use of fossil fuels rather than create more growth; the efficacy of the loss of wilderness and existing jobs in the tourism and recreation sector; privatization and industrialization of BC rivers and concerns around NAFTA; and the cumulative effects of the past and future projects that are being proposed.
Currently the EAO (Environmental Assessment Office) and CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency), are reviewing public comments. Plutonic will then be given a final Terms of Reference (TOR) for the application and the environmental impact statement it must prepare for the two review processes to continue to the next stage.
Plutonic Power and General Electric are proposing a mega project for Bute Inlet with 17 river diversions, hydroelectric facilities, 85 km of penstock, 267 km of permanent roads and 443 km of high-voltage transmission lines through some of BC’s most remote and beautiful coastal wilderness. To learn more about the proposal, go to www.ButeInlet.net.
Quadra Island, BC – A standing room only crowd packed the Quadra Island Community Centre Sunday, March 1, proving the value and importance of a public process that almost didn't happen. The town hall meeting was hosted by the BC Environmental Assessment Office and chaired by local Strathcona Regional District Director Jim Abram.
Dozens of speakers came forward from the 340 local residents from many of the nearby islands that are most impacted by this proposal. Each expressed concern for Plutonic Power's proposed Bute Inlet hydroelectric project. As the meeting progressed a show of hands declared unanimous opposition to the project.
Many speakers questioned the economic justification for the project and called for alternative approaches to British Columbia's Energy Plan with more emphasis on conservation and reductions in consumption.
An experienced mountain guide gave a slide show that demonstrated the world class grandeur of the area and voiced apprehension about permanent visual impacts.Local fisherman spoke about the difficulty of determining existing fish populations in silt-laden waters and the need for multi-year baseline studies.Local loggers provided vivid descriptions about the hazards and challenges of operating in such rugged terrain with frequent catastrophic events and extreme weather conditions.
Disappointment was conveyed that the proponent, Plutonic Power declined to attend or send any representative to present the proposal or answer questions from the community most affected.
"What is needed is a land use plan for the Sunshine Coast to be completed, and there needs to be a comprehensive alternative energy planning process to determine the need, the best technology and the siting of any alternative power projects. There are better technologies that produce more power and more jobs while reducing our dependance on fossil fuels globally," said Jim Abram, Director for the islands and inlets of the Strathcona Regional District.
Unanswered questions include the validity of claims that this power generation will actually reduce the use of fossil fuels rather than create more growth; the efficacy of the loss of wilderness and existing jobs in the tourism and recreation sector; privatization and industrialization of BC rivers and concerns around NAFTA; and the cumulative effects of the past and future projects that are being proposed.
Currently the EAO (Environmental Assessment Office) and CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency), are reviewing public comments. Plutonic will then be given a final Terms of Reference (TOR) for the application and the environmental impact statement it must prepare for the two review processes to continue to the next stage.
Plutonic Power and General Electric are proposing a mega project for Bute Inlet with 17 river diversions, hydroelectric facilities, 85 km of penstock, 267 km of permanent roads and 443 km of high-voltage transmission lines through some of BC’s most remote and beautiful coastal wilderness. To learn more about the proposal, go to www.ButeInlet.net.