The goal of the Green Party of BC is to establish a responsible energy future in which 100% of electrical generation comes from
renewable sources.
To achieve this goal, we support the development of a diversity of renewable electrical sources, such as microhydro generation projects,
wind turbine generators, tidal generators, etc., throughout the province, as they are needed.
Although British Columbia has immense potential for renewable electrical power from microhydro, wind, tidal energy, and photovoltaic sources,
all these sources of renewable energy are intermittent. They can only develop to their full potential if
on-demand sources of electricity are available to make up shortfalls in supply on an hourly, daily and longer term basis.
And Whereas
The Nechako watershed and Kemano generating station form a hydroelectric power resource without peer anywhere else in the world,
allowing as it does the production of 896 megawatts of renewable hydroelectric power to be turned on or off at will in a matter of minutes,
without causing environmental damage or downstream flooding, and
Much of the work that would allow the Nechako/Kemano capacity to double1800 megawatts during brief periods has already been done, and
As currently operated by Alcan, the Nechako/Kemano system realizes almost none of its unique capability to provide on-demand power, and
The full integration of the Nechako/Kemano system into the BC Hydro system is an essential ingredient for the realization of a
renewable energy future for British Columbia.
And whereas
Alcan, the owner-operator of the Kemano power station has not fulfilled the contractual obligations as stated in the Industrial Development
Act and the BC-Alcan agreements of 1950 and 1997, and
Three court challenges launched by the City of Kitimat to force Alcan to meet its contractual obligations have been unproductive so far,
and
Under the terms of the 1997 agreements, it is imperative to resolve the issue of the Nechako watershed rights as soon as possible,
and before 2012.
Therefore be it resolved that:
The Green Party of BC calls for the revocation of the Nechako water license as held by Alcan, and that it be assigned to BC Hydro instead,
and
For BC Hydro to purchase the Kemano generating station from Alcan.
We call on all Members of the Legislative Assembly as well as other elected representatives throughout the province to act in the
public interest by reclaiming the natural capital of the Nechako watershed as a public resource for British Columbians.