A debate is raging on the BC coast about the future of Bute Inlet. It’s about private power versus public power. It’s about the potential NAFTA threat of foreign involvement on our rivers. It is about responses to climate change.
Environmentalists are alarmed at the impact of industrial developments on remote coastal rivers, inlets, and mountains previously the terrain of FirstNations, logging, and eco-tourism companies. Some prominent eco-organizations have taken the gloves off in their support of any non-fossil fuel source of energy in the hope of averting the looming climate catastrophe. First Nations indignantly defend their first real hope for economic development.
The Bute hydroelectric project, a joint venture between Plutonic Power and General Electric, will consist of 17 river diversions, 445 km of transmission lines, 314 km of roads and 104 bridges. The transmission lines will create around 1780 hectares of clearcut, kept permanent through the use of herbicides, while bridges and structures will likely be treated with copper chromium arsenate (CCA). Copper leaches and permanently damages the olfactory ability of fish to avoid predators, reproduce, and identify their spawning river.
The Bute project, termed by one local newspaper a “green monster,” will expand upon a similar, but smaller Plutonic run-of-river project in Toba Inlet, one fiord to the south. The project will cost $3.5 billion and employ approximately 900 construction workers for several years. The nameplate capacity (1027 MW) rivals that of major hydroelectric dams, like BC Hydro`s proposed Site C on the Peace River. However, this capacity will only be realized in the spring and early summer when snow and glacier melt is maximum. Energy output will be considerably reduced at other times of the year, especially during the coldest days when provincial electrical demand is greatest.
The Homathko, Southgate and Orford river valleys which flow into the upper part of Bute Inlet contain the majority of tributaries being harnessed. Plutonic claims the rivers are too steep to support fish although a few do support marginal fish habitat and the lower rivers have a rich history of salmon runs, now somewhat diminished. Individual generating stations will be linked by transmission lines that run up each valley, circle the head of the inlet and run half way down the east shore. A longer higher voltage transmission line will carry power south over the height of land to Toba Inlet where it will share a common transmission right-of-way with the Toba/Montrose run-of-river projects. The valleys have been logged continuously since the 1950s.
The project promises short and long term benefits to four First Nations who have endorsed this use of their traditional territory: Sliammon First Nation from Powell River, Klahoose First Nation from Cortes Island, Sechelt First Nation, and Xwemalhkwu First Nation (formerly known as Homalco) of Campbell River and Bute Inlet.
Next Steps on the Plutonic Bute Project
The public comments have now been submitted to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency). Bureaucrats in both agencies will determine the final Terms of Reference for the application and the environmental impact statement Plutonic must prepare. This may take Plutonic until September, or even January 2010. When it comes back, the EAO has 30 days to identify omissions in the application and consultation record, and punt the application back to Plutonic. The EAO has a brochure and other information on its website: www.eao. gov.bc.ca/guide/ If Plutonic is not successful in obtaining an Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) from BC Hydro, it may take its time with the application, and let things cool off. BC Hydro expects to make its decisions in the Clean Power Call between April and June this year.
Federally, the review panel decision is likely to be made in April, and the review panel will be given its marching orders at that time. The federal review may or may not synchronize with the provincial process. There is no local review process because the provincial government stripped local governments of zoning jurisdiction for power projects in the infamous Bill 30 in 2006. Local government cannot say “no” to a private power project on a river in BC. Some local governments are now calling for a moratorium on river develoments until an energy planning process is carried out.
Klahoose: Choices in Toba Lead to Bute
In 1990 Sun Belt Water proposed to sell water to its home city of Santa Barbara and neighbouring Goleta County. The water would be shipped in tankers to California from Toba Inlet, under a bulk export license held by Sun Belt’s Canadian partner, Snowcap Water. The Klahoose First Nation were aghast, and took the position that not a drop of water would be exported until its treaty negotiations were settled. Chief Kathy Francis enlisted the support of other coastal First Nations and the First Nations Summit. She persuaded the California customers for the water and the BC government that disruptions would be the result without a settlement with the Klahoose. The issue turned into a growing political liability and in 1991 the BC government imposed a moratorium on bulk water exports. Sun Belt is still suing for compensation under NAFTA.
Nineteen years later, the Klahoose Nation still has no treaty, and its people still have few opportunities. When Plutonic Power knocked on the First Nation’s door in 2006, it was looking to build two hydroelectric projects in the Toba Inlet watershed. It offered money, cash up front and one or two percent of revenues, training, jobs, and business development. The Klahoose Chief and Council accepted the offer – and granted the company access to its traditional territory. The project is under construction now. From reports it is running an impressively well-organized work camp and repairing fish habitat damaged by previous logging as it goes. Electricity generation is scheduled to start in 2010. Chief Ken Brown is now an outspoken champion of Plutonic, and an even more vociferous critic of those concerned about the industrialization of these coastal watersheds.
***
Resources
For a map of water license applications for power generation in BC, see www.ippwatch.info/w/ BC Citizens for Public Power, www.citizensforpublicpower.ca BC Creek Protection Society, www.bc-creeks.org BC Sustainable Energy Association, www.bcsea.org Friends of Bute Inlet, www.buteinlet.net Plutonic Power Corporation, www.plutonic.ca Save Our Rivers, www.saveourrivers.ca
