Kim Thompson
[email protected]
The emergence of independent power projects (IPP) has meant the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) needs to plan ahead, but the task is challenging because the provincial government has been unwilling to create a plan for IPPs.
"It does make it more challenging so we have to make sure that we are pulling out as much information beyond B.C. Hydro to make sure we have the transmission lines needed for new projects," Moira Chicilo of BCTC Communications told the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board on Monday (Feb. 27).
The BCTC was incorporated in May 2003 and reports to the Ministry of Energy.
Its mandate is to provide open and fair access to B.C.'s electric transmission system. Currently the provincial transmission system includes 18,280 kilometres of circuit transmission lines and 260 substations.
Most of the transmission system was built between 1940 and 1980 and Chicilo said many parts of the system are nearing capacity. She said the creation of new IPPs have increased requirements on the system.
In the SLRD the average annual growth has been 3.8 per cent.
"We have the core responsibility of operating the transmission system. Our mandate is to plan for growth of the system," Chicilo said. "We are the second largest transmission centre in North America."
Chicilo said the goal is get a long-term perspective and to keep the process of adding new IPPs both open and transparent. She added that creating new transmission lines takes up to 10 years but building run-of-river projects only takes two to four years. As a result the provincial government handed BCTC with a directive to plan ahead and build for IPPs.
"This is an exciting opportunity for us to integrate what we are doing into a long-term plan. We are scoping out areas around the province and came to Pemberton in the fall. The goal is to get an understanding of IPP activity in that area as well," Chicilo said.Eckhard Zeidler, acting Whistler director, pointed out that much of the BCTC information is anecdotal because a regional IPP plan currently does not exist. Chicilo said the only feasible way of planning at this point is to work with communities and local energy plans.
"We are committed to understanding your community plans better and become more involved in consultation around IPP projects," Chicilo said.
The SLRD is involved in a dispute with the Province over the future of IPPs in the corridor.
While the SLRD is seeking a regional plan for IPPs before approving projects such as one proposed on the Ashlu River, the Province has so far rebuffed those initiatives.
Area C Director Susie Gimse, though, said there is a willingness in the provincial government to change and she hopes that produces positive results. She said the various agencies have been working together and sharing information about IPP infrastructure. It is a new way of approaching IPP development, she said.
"It has been a difficult process to try and plan but the results will be positive," Chicilo said.
Nordic Centre progresses
The SLRD board requested that the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) hold a public open house on March 30 to allow public review and comment on the Whistler Nordic Centre buildings.
After the open house the development permit will be brought back to the SLRD for consideration.
In early February VANOC submitted a development permit to the SLRD. The application provides insight into the design of the new buildings as well as sustainable design initiatives incorporated into the venue design and recent site construction.
The project includes a day lodge, ski jump, biathlon stadium and shooting ranges, cross country venue, maintenance building, and a sewage treatment plant.
As detailed in an SLRD staff report, VANOC proposed to begin construction of the permanent buildings and servicing infrastructure in early spring of 2006.
Some of the sustainable design initiatives include the goal of creating a small environmental footprint that protects old-growth forest, retains islands of trees and reduces construction waste.
The SLRD board received the information and details of a public meeting will be announced soon.
