Green Party MLA says Hydro should dump Site C dam proposal for wind power

A Vancouver Island Green Party MLA says the massive Site C Dam project should be scrapped in favour of wind power.

Currently, only 1.5 per cent of electricity in B.C. comes from wind power.

Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, says the price of wind power is actually less than the planned Site C dam.

“B.C. is a perfect place to do this, it’s cost effective, economically smart, socially progressive and it’s good for the environment,” says Weaver. “B.C. Hydro doesn’t have a mandate to build wind farms, they are tasked to build Hydro dams. So this creates a problem with getting renewable power into our electrical grid because of the structure of BC Hydro.”

“It’s really a bureaucratic problem, it’s not a regulatory problem.”

He cites Prince Edward Island, where 20 per cent of power comes from wind.

Weaver doesn’t see any reason why wind power can’t work here.

BC Hydro issued the following statement to Unfiltered with Jill Krop tonight:

There is room for both wind power and Site C in B.C.’s energy future. Wind power can supply clean, renewable power, but the supply is intermittent and there is low dependable capacity. A source of firm supply is also needed as back-up when wind is not available. Our hydroelectric dams provide clean, reliable power and allow for the integration of wind power into the grid. The big dams can provide back-up when the wind is not blowing.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: There is room for both wind power and Site C in B.C.'s energy future. Wind power can supply clean, renewable power, but the supply is intermittent and there is low dependable capacity. A source of firm supply is also needed as back-up when wind is not available. Our hydroelectric dams provide clean, reliable power and allow for the integration of wind power into the grid. The big dams can provide back-up when the wind is not blowing.