Streams flowing to the Upper Pitt River will run free after B.C. Hydro scratched Run of River Power Inc’.s plans to put small dams and turbines on eight streams north of Pitt Lake.

After receiving 68 proposals for clean power, B.C. Hydro this week shortened that list to 21. The proposal for the Upper Pitt was not on the list.

“That’s good as far as I’m concerned,” Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Michael Sather said Thursday.

“The lack of community support would probably be top of the list, I would think.”

The project could be reborn though, if B.C. Hydro issues another call for clean power.

“We will continue to explore the options of what we believe to be a very beneficial project,” Run of River CEO Jako Krushnisky said Thursday.

The proposal created a firestorm of opposition in 2007, leading to two heated meetings in Pitt Meadows as environmentalists opposed Run or River Power Inc.’s plans.

Environment Minister Barry Penner cut short the environmental review process in March 2008, when he rejected a powerline through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. The powerline would have connected the power generated to a substation near Squamish.

One of the strongest opponents was the Burke Mountain Naturalists.

“We think that’s a good decision,” said Elaine Golds with the group.

The project would have diverted every salmon stream in the area, a major reason against it.

But she guesses the proposal to cut through a provincial park did in the project.

Golds said the provincial government recently did a study of such projects and screened out those that affected parks.

But the fact the application got as far as it did “pointed out the need for some sort of standardized overview by which some projects can be assessed,” Golds added.

“We need a provincial structure to make sure these projects are sited in the right place.”

Land-use planning would allow the government to develop some criteria about the proper placement of run-of-river projects.

Run of River Power Inc., based in Delta, submitted its proposal a year ago in response to B.C. Hydro’s call for clean power. The company wanted to put small dams on Bucklin, Steve, Pinecone, Homer, Boise,

Shale, Corbold and East Corbold creeks, which flow into the Upper Pitt River. The dams create shallow ponds to allow water to be fed down a pipe.

At the bottom, the rushing water drives a turbine to produce electricity. The water is then returned to the stream.

At least 155 megawatts of electricity were expected out of the project.

Golds said earlier there were too many dams in one small area, and once a stream has a penstock and turbine installed on it, there’s no way for the public to monitor the water that’s being diverted. That could lead to depletion of downstream flows needed by wildlife.

Government MLA Marc Dalton said there was no political interference in the decision. It was made for financial reasons. B.C. Hydro just decided it not want to buy power from that particular project, he said.

Spokesperson Susan Danard said the exact reasons for rejecting the bid are confidential, as set out in the bidding terms.

“It’s up to the proponent if they want to discuss them.”

Danard said some of the reasons for refusal could be financial, lack of community support, permitting issues and pricing.

There is a difference between a project being proposed and getting approved, said Dalton.

“It’s really a strenuous process with a lot of environmental considerations.”

He said more than 50 permits or approvals from 14 government agencies are required.

Of the hundreds of run-of-river projects proposed, only 44 have been built since 2001.

Dalton called the decision a second strike against the project, the first being Penner’s rejection of the powerline through the park.

“It doesn’t look very promising at this point.”

That could change however.

The project is close to a large power source and infrastructure and would also benefit Katzie First Nations, Krushnisky pointed out.

In a Nov. 18 news release, Krushnisky said that “in conjunction with the Katzie First Nation, the company plans to continue development of its 155-mw Upper Pitt cluster in preparation for BC Hydro’s next call for power.”

Krushnisky added, “For all those reasons, we will continue to explore options to how that project can proceed.”

The native band said it was suing the provincial government for cutting short the environmental review process because it lost $400,000 in yearly royalties, as well as jobs and an equity position in the run of river company.

“The Katzie First Nation supports sustainable energy development and remains committed to the Upper Pitt River power project,” Katzie chief Mike Leon said in the Run of River release.

“This project will create much needed employment, economic benefits, and legacy assets for the Katzie people.”

Run of River Power Inc. had its Mamquam project near Squamish considered for further discussions with Hydro.

B.C. Hydro said in a news release that it will start talks for electricity-purchase agreements with 13 of the proposals and ask the other 34 projects to trim their costs.

Among those proceeding to the next phase of consideration: Plutonic Power’s $4 billion, 17-river project on Bute Inlet near Powell River; Naikun Wind’s huge offshore wind farm near Haida Gwaii; and dozens of smaller projects around the province. The Bute Inlet proposal has been compared in its scale to BC Hydro’s long-considered Site C dam on the Peace River, although its highest output would take place during the spring and summer runoff period.

Cloudworks Energy Inc.’s project near Mission is also still being considered.

B.C. Hydro plans to start issuing contracts next month.

– with Black Press files