EADC unhappy with lack of environmental assessment, cumulative impact studies for wind farms in Peace region
Last week, the provincial government announced that it had selected nine energy projects from its 2024 call for power “that will supply clean, affordable electricity to serve BC’s growing communities and housing needs”. Two of the chosen projects are in the Peace region – the Stewart Creek wind project and the Taylor wind project, which were developed with West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations respectively.
In the announcement the government said that to complete the projects as quickly as possible, it “intends to exempt these wind projects and all future wind projects in BC from environmental assessment.”
At the Electoral Area Directors Committee meeting on December 12, Area C director Brad Sperling raised some concerns about the way the province is going about moving this program forward.
When the province first put out its call for power, the Peace River Regional District asked that cumulative impact studies be conducted for any projects that were approved in the region. The directors reiterated that request during meetings at the Union of BC Municipalities conference in September.
The letter that then-Energy Minister Josie Osborne wrote following UBCM assured the PRRD that BC Hydro would continue to work with the PRRD to continue discussions and answer any questions the regional district may have regarding the call for power.
“There is no environmental assessment being done on these wind projects, they’re just being approved and moving forward,” said Sperling. “So, they’ve totally ignored our request for cumulative impact studies.
“No other industry gets to get away without an environmental assessment.”
Sperling feels the province is ignoring the northeast, and that the regional district needs to stand up because these projects are going ahead “whether we like it or not.”
Using the oil and gas industry as an example, Sperling said it’s clear that the government doesn’t like natural gas.
“They’re trying their best to get rid of that,” he said. “They’re even coming out with their own emissions caps, not even the federal ones. They’re actually higher.
“They’re just ignoring everything. When the premier said, right from the start of this election has shown him that he needs to listen to rural people and rural communities – well he sure is listening well to the ones north of the Rocky Mountains. He’s just totally ignored everything.”
Area D director Leonard Hiebert agreed, adding that this isn’t a new issue with the province.
“We’ve been having that same conversation for years. It’s the same discussions we’re having, especially the cumulative impacts.”
BC Hydro says its 10-Year-Capital Plan and call for power are estimated to lead to total public and private investments of approximately $140 billion, and create up to 14,000 construction jobs annually.
“They’re touting the economic benefits for rural areas and communities. There might be some during construction,” said Sperling, adding that there’s no taxation other than the road in and the road out.
“Where’s the benefit, whether it’s on private land or Crown land?”
Dan Rose, Area E director and EADC chair said he’s concerned about landowners, and how their hands are tied if they want to do anything other than agriculture on their land.
“How do you answer that question when people phone you and say Well, gee I just wanted to do this, and I can’t even take an acre out to do this. And yet, here we go,” Rose said.
Sperling recommended that a report on the issue be brought to the board for a fulsome discussion.
“That the Regional Board have a fulsome discussion at a future committee of the whole regarding concerns regarding the Province’s stands on the call for power, including wind farms, environmental assessments, emissions caps and the impacts on industry and the economy.”
“We need to push back on this. Starting with no environmental assessment, that’s just wrong. No one gets away with that,” Sperling said.
“I’m not quite certain what their plan is, but it’s not listening to the people of the North.”