The goal of the Columbia Basin Development
Program (CBDP), as a part of meeting the future energy needs of
British Columbia, is to develop specified hydroelectric resources
that have an expected low environmental impact. These include the
expansion of existing facilities at Brilliant, Keenleyside, Seven
Mile and Waneta, and the installation of units 5 and 6 at Mica and
Revelstoke. A brief description of the proposed projects includes:
Waneta Powerplant
Expansion Project
The Cominco owned dam and powerplant,
.5 km upstream of the confluence with the Columbia River and built
in 1954, has a capacity of 375 MW. The proposed expansion would
have an installed capacity of up to 380 MW. Cominco is reviewing
the feasibility of upgrading the units in the existing powerplant
to take advantage of a recent agreement between Cominco and the
province, which gives Cominco access to additional water until the
end of 2002.
Seven Mile Unit
4
This dam and powerplant came into
service in 1979-80. It is located 9.5 km upstream of the Waneta
Dam and has a capacity of 608 MW. Provision for Unit 4 was made
in the original design of the powerhouse.
Keenleyside Powerplant
Project
Located 7 km upsteam of Castlegar
and completed in 1968, the dam was built for water storage purposes
and currently has no generation facilities. "Shelf ready"
design of the powerplant was completed in 1992, which means that
the project is advanced to a stage where site work could commence
within six months of a decision to proceed with construction.
Brilliant Powerplant
Expansion Project
The dam and powerplant, which are
owned by Cominco, are located 3 km upstream of the confluence of
the Kootenay and Columbia River. Completed in 1944, with the last
unit installed in 1968, it has a capacity of 125 MW. The proposed
expansion would involve the installation of two additional units
with a total capacity of about 150 MW.
Revelstoke Units
5 and 6 Project
Located 5 km upstream of Revelstoke,
the dam and powerplant were completed in 1984. The powerhouse has
a capacity of 1843 MW and has provision for addition of a fifth
and sixth unit, which would add 900 MW.
Mica Units 5
and 6 Project
Located 130 km upstream from Revelstoke
Dam and completed in 1976, it comprises an earthfill dam and a 1736
MW powerhouse. It has provision to add a fifth and sixth unit, which
would add 870 MW.
The four projects in the lower Columbia
represent 7% of the forecast growth of British Columbia's electricity
needs over the next two decades. Mica and Revelstoke Units 5 and
6 would be installed in response to a domestic or an export need
for additional peaking capacity.
The CBDP involves the implementation
of strategies and sequencing for the Columbia Basin projects that
would enhance environmental, employment and economic development
benefits. B.C. Hydro's objectives include utilizing its human, financial
and technical resources to enhance social and economic development
in the province, while being cognizant of it's primary mandate of
providing reliable energy at least social cost.
This review examined three alternatives
for the sequencing of the projects:
Each alternative was assessed in
terms of meeting the above objectives and for its overall environmental,
social and financial impacts upon the region and the province. They
were also reviewed in light of continuing uncertainty with respect
to the return of the Canadian Entitlement of the Columbia River
Treaty downstream benefits, the delivery of generation from the
Alcan Kemano II Completion Project, potential self-generation and
wood waste projects, other possible generation projects and demand-side
management programs which impact the time and choice of the lead
project. It was assumed that the Canadian Entitlement to the downstream
benefits is not returned to the Province. The study also included
a Multiple Account Evaluation, examining various resource acquisition
scenarios and determined financial, customer service, environmental,
social and economic development tradeoffs.
The Review concluded that the economic
and social cost premiums make the early development of the Keenleyside
project unattractive. Fisheries issues (primarily pertaining to
white sturgeon habitat) need to be resolved in order to retain the
benefits from the Waneta expansion, the preferred option that provides
the highest economic benefit. The Review also concluded that the
lead times associated with Revelstoke and Mica should be reduced
by completing all prerequisites for construction and thereby retain
an option for a 1999 in-service date, and that additional planning
studies need to be undertaken to review the future schedule of projects.
Note: Since this report
was written, the following changes have taken place with respect
to hydro power development in the region:
