The British Columbia government continues to give serious consideration to a major hydroelectric expansion project on the Columbia River system. Bill Bennett told The Vancouver Sun editorial board on Monday that plans for a 335-megawatt expansion of the Waneta generating station on the Pend d’Oreille River south of Trail are being seriously scoped out right now. Plans for the expansion were approved by government regulators in 2008, but Columbia Power Corp. announced nine months ago the process had stalled due to the absence of a deal with BC Hydro to buy the extra power that would be generated. A contract awarded last year to SNC-Lavalin to build a two-unit powerhouse expires in mid-August, adding some urgency to negotiations among Columbia Power, BC Hydro and Fortis to buy the power that would be produced. Bennett said he continues to impress upon his cabinet colleagues the urgency of preparing for a review of the Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the United States which expires in 2014. The treaty annually earns B.C. around $200 million, for water management services that facilitate flood control, irrigation and hydroelectricity production south of the border… International Power Canada Inc is taking a majority stake in what is expected to be Vancouver Island’s first operating wind power project from Sea Breeze Power Corp. – when construction of phase one of the $300 million project is complete, Knob Hill is expected to generate 99MW. As Knob Hill is located on the traditional territories of three First Nations – the Quatsino, Tlatlasikwals, and Kwakiutl — development is still subject to the signing of impact/benefit agreements with the aboriginals.
