B.C. hydro projects fail U.S. test
Published: July 01, 2008 6:00 PMOpponents of B.C. run-of-river hydroelectric projects are celebrating a U.S. report that says many of the projects don’t meet current California environmental standards.
Consultants for San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Company are assessing the feasibility of importing B.C. power. Their initial report indicates that B.C. run-of-river power doesn’t meet state rules, which require projects to be 39 megawatts or less in size, “do not cause a change in volume or timing of stream flow,” and “do not cause an adverse impact on instream beneficial uses.”
In its report to the California Public Utilities Commission, the utility notes that state rules could be amended to take into account the different environmental conditions of B.C.
“Thus far, PG&E’s consultants have found that [B.C. run-of-river] projects do not have major impacts on the overall environment of the watershed,” the report says.
