The B.C. government and BC Hydro say now is the time to invest in plans and projects to make sure that the system can meet rising energy demands.
Demand for electricity in B.C. is projected to grow by about 20 per cent by 2030 and roughly 50 per cent by 2050, according to BC Hydro.
Energy Minister Adrian Dix laid out a plan on Monday afternoon, detailing how BC Hydro could meet these needs, including investing more in hydroelectricity.
“This is B.C. and BC Hydro’s defining opportunity to build on our clean energy advantage,” Dix said in a statement.
“Rising demand for clean electricity is a good thing and shows our plans to build B.C. and grow our economy are working. Now, we’re planning ahead with renewed long-term vision to power growing communities, support industry and keep our economy strong.”
The province is exploring two potential sites for a new hydroelectric project — Site E and Homathko.
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Site E, located on the Peace River, approximately 60 kilometres from the recently completed John Horgan Dam, formally known as Site C, could provide up to 750 megawatts of generating capacity and produce roughly 3,000 gigawatt hours of energy each year.
Homathko, near the Bute Inlet, would consist of up to four dams and three powerhouses and, depending on the configuration, could provide about 500 to 900 megawatts of capacity and 3,000 to 4,500 gigawatt hours of energy annually.
BC Hydro says the adjacent Southgate river system is also being considered for an additional 200 megawatts of capacity.
Transmission lines connecting the potential project site to the provincial grid at Williams Lake and Vancouver Island will also be investigated.
Meanwhile, BC Hydro is exploring other emerging technologies, including geothermal, biomass and utility-scale battery energy storage.
In addition, BC Hydro will build upon its Power Smart program, which was launched in May 2026 and will invest more than $1 billion over three years to expand tools, incentives and help customers save energy.
BC Hydro will also look at ways to optimizing the system already in place to power the province, including modernizing equipment, upgrading hydroelectric facilities and improving operational efficiency.
JV JV JV waaaaaaaaaaaaa
Me to Bob…. Me to
I suck c0cks
Also I love to victimize myself and all of the other racist white people in Canada. We’re the real victims in all of this me me me waaaaaa
See below. JV again being his usual FN reverse racist, homophobic clowns.
Afraid to counter fact or answer direct questions.
Just slurs and insults no substance, no facts and definitely no class.
I’ll be giving free blow jobs to anyone that wants one! Meet me in the alley behind the Best Western on Davie Street. Pride 2026!!
When we see this lack of foresight and general incompetence from our government, it once again proves the adage that those who are attracted to power are the very ones who shouldn’t have power…
BC could have built 3 nuclear power plants for the price of site c with three time the output. Power for the next 40 years with the option to sell excess to the US and keep consumer costs down. Those against nuclear are not considering all the costs benefits.
So demand is expected to grow by 20% in 4 years and they are only talking about new projects to produce energy now. Eby and the NDP government are really slow on building infrastructure to meet the demand of the consumer. Hydro is buying electricity now to meet demand how much will they be buying in 4 years. Yet this government is still pushing EVs and electric heating in homes.
How incredibly disingenuous and hypocritical of the NDP government who spent years opposing the Site C dam claiming that there was no need for hydro power!
Yep, gotta fuel those data centers. And all the big density highrise projects to house the omar instavoters,
They will need permission from the Indians. That and lots of tax dollars to hand out
Considering?
The US has a power shortage and we could be selling power south with any extra. What are the NDP waiting for? Oh I know, is it The FN feudal lords in Co government to tell us how much they will need to be paid to get their consent? And they will also want a free 49% ownership of the dam and profits or purchased by a low interest Govt loan. the FN to never pay any taxes on the revenue they earn/
This is the Eby and JT Liberal version of the new equality.
Site C was already a huge boondoggle which floods workable land and destroys habitats. Build a nuclear power plant already
Good luck with that. Anything the government gets involved in , turns into a dumpster fire, also known in some circles as a sacred fire
Keep the economy strong. You DUMBASS, You gave us a 13 billion deficit and next year will probably be 20 Billion.
So has BC paid for site ‘c’ yet? They were going to raise the price of electricity for 10 years to pay for the dam.
That is why people are switching from Electric heat to natural gas. Way cheaper and more dependable.
“BC Hydro is exploring other emerging technologies, including geothermal, biomass and utility-scale battery energy storage.”
Less “exploring” and more “building”, please.
Energy storage is critical to expanding the system with wind and solar, so we need to be building it NOW — before the renewables come online.