49 Megawatts

As the world begins to acknowledge the immediate need to curb greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to slow global warming, British Columbia is responding with an aggressive push for clean and sustainable energy. 49 Megawatts takes a close look at the future of British Columbia's rivers after the issuing of hundreds of private water licenses for power production. In an attempt to uncover the backroom politics behind the approval of the Ashlu Creek Hydro Project, Bryan Smith reveals how British Columbia is fast tracking hydro projects under the name of "green power" without efforts to curb power demand, adequately assess the environmental impacts of "run of the river" hydro projects, or consider the input of local communities and governments.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ashlu
• River
• Private
• Power
• in
• British
• Columbia

[bryegrains]

And what is wrong with caring for your backyard?

[Shnook1200]

kayak2hell: You are wrong on so many counts. Full time onsite jobs, winter flows, 1/3 of rivers being "given" away, existing hydro diversions (for IPP's), approved licences (for IPP's), project renewal, etc. Man, it's getting tired. Stop spreading shit and saying the same old, "we aren't against ror projects, just not here." Give me a break you robot! My question to you: How do you get your kayak from your house to a paddle destination? Be part of the solution not the problem.

[simontimon2]

@kayak2hell The facility bought the part of land from the Squamish.

[kayak2hell]

@simontimon2 Not quite. After 40 years the license must be renewed. The facility does not belong to the province after that period either. For example, the Ashlu IPP featured in this video becomes the property of the Squamish First Nation.

[simontimon2]

@kayak2hell The run of river project are on a land least system. It means that after certain amount years it becomes a provincial asset to no cost to the tax payer.

That means for the price of waiting a certain amount of years and 0$ cost to the tax payer, the provence practically gets free electricty for price of being patient.

[kayak2hell]

@simontimon2 People opposed to run-of-river hydro aren't for a blanket boycott - some rivers are best suited to it and less suited for other uses. However, the issue is that the government and industry see no value whatsoever in any river beyond power generation. They believe recreation, tourism, preservation, and wildlife habitat to be of zero consideration. These may have no value to you - I respect that - but to many they are important, esp when other sources of truly clean power exist.

[kayak2hell]

@simontimon2 You don't get it - there is no 'we'. Nearly a third of all rivers in BC have been or are about to be handed over to private industry for a song. The province receives about $10K for the hydro license. That's it. .

[simontimon2]

@kayak2hell Great so we can't export electricity during the summer and then import it during the winter.

[kayak2hell]

@simontimon2 You do realize that the rivers in question don't flow at all during the winter? The problem with run-of-river hydro is that it only generates power during the summer when BC does not need it.

[simontimon2]

@kayak2hell BC needs energy unless you want to freeze to death during the winter.

[kayak2hell]

@simontimon2 Jobs you say? Drive to the dam and powerhouse on the Ashlu and count the number of people employed full-time on-site. (hint: none)