Save the Bute Inlet, British Columbia
- da: Save Our Rivers
- destinatario: Provincial and Federal Environmental Assessment Offices
Plutonic Hydro Inc. is proposing to construct the largest private power project in Canadian history in a remote wilderness area of beautiful British Columbia. This project consists of 17 dams, river diversions and generating facilities on scenic mountain creeks and rivers in prime grizzly bear habitat. This project, with support from the US corporation General Electric, will result 440 km of a clearcut and herbicided corridor for power lines, 260 km of permanent roads, 80 km of pipes, and 140 bridges and will be over 1000MW in size.
In 7 of the last 10 years BC has been a net exporter of energy. The rivers in this region will produce the most energy in the summer, even though BC needs energy in winter. %uFFFDThese projects are not only environmentally destructive, they will cause our electricity bills to go up in order to subsidize the payments to these private power companies. This is energy that we cannot use and we shouldn't have to pay for it.
We are opposed to Plutonic's massive 1027 MW private power project in the scenic Bute Inlet.%uFFFD We also believe that a project of this magnitude requires much more public discussion on the merits and risks involved than has taken place so far. %uFFFD
The federal environmental assessment mandates that the need for this project must be established. %uFFFDSection 1.3.1 of the draft terms of reference for the environmental assessment clearly states: "The proponent must clearly describe the need for the proposed project." %uFFFDWe strongly urge the EA office to refuse this project on the basis that need has not been established. %uFFFDThis project will generate electricity that comes at the wrong time of year to meet BC's energy needs. %uFFFDRun-of-river power in the Bute would peak in summer but BC needs energy in the winter. %uFFFDThis argument is outlined with data from BC Stats here:%uFFFDhttp://tinyurl.com/do-we-need-it
We strongly urge you to issue a recommendation that this project should not go forward. %uFFFDThe environmental risks are too high, the project is too big, and the need for it has not been established. %uFFFDThank you for taking the time to read this email. %uFFFD
