Greener Communities
Community Energy Planning (CEP) is a tool that examines community objectives and future development plans, with the goal of creating energy and infrastructure efficiencies and realizing sustainability goals. It looks at all the ways that energy is used by a community – transportation, buildings and infrastructure (both heating and electricity) – as well as energy supply and distribution. CEP also gives communities an opportunity to explore possible energy resources, products and services that could best meet their needs. In some cases, green energy might be one of the solutions.
The key to successful community energy planning is participation and input from community members. The community itself ultimately decides how to carry out the CEP.
CEP needs differ between municipalities and off-grid communities. For example, a municipality may want CEP assistance when they are adding a significant new development. Communities located in areas not serviced by the BC Hydro grid may be trying to decrease their reliance on diesel generation and want to look into developing a green energy resource.
BC Hydro’s CEP initiatives tie in well with Power Smart initiatives focusing on energy efficiency in the community.
Municipal Projects
BC Hydro has been involved in several municipal CEP processes. In addition to working closely with community representatives, Hydro often works with other partners, such as the Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development and the Community Energy Association during the CEP process.
Most recently, we assisted the Resort Municipality of Whistler in creating a CEP. This included a baseline study, showing the quantity and type of energy used, the costs involved and the greenhouse gas emissions generated. This information was then used to develop possible scenarios for Whistler’s energy future, set targets for emissions, efficiencies and costs, and to produce an action plan.
An energy baseline study has also been completed for Bowen Island. The next phase of this community’s CEP work will look at the feasibility of pursuing specific options for reducing emissions and energy use on Bowen Island.
Nemiah Valley
In partnership with Pembina, the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation, the Cariboo-Chilcotin Aboriginal Training and Education Committee, the David Suzuki Foundation and the provincial and federal governments, BC Hydro co-funded a study of sustainable energy options in the Nemiah Valley.
The project considered the energy needs of this off-grid community and conducted preliminary research into some green energy resources. Two wind monitoring towers were installed in November 2000, and two potential micro hydro sites were investigated.
Preliminary wind monitoring has now been completed and the monitoring masts have been dismantled. The next stage of the project will look at the feasibility of a micro hydro and diesel hybrid system. Wind energy may also be incorporated at a later date.
Load management will be a key component of the future energy system. This means working to reduce peak demand by changing the time of use of electricity. Load management can assist in avoiding the costs of an overbuilt system, sized to meet a peak load.
Atlin
The Taku River Tlingit First Nation and BC Hydro are partnering in the development of a community energy plan (CEP) for Atlin, B.C. The project involves assessing the energy needs in Atlin and the opportunities to meet that need more efficiently using cleaner technologies.
Atlin is an off-grid community that obtains its electricity from a diesel-generating station. One component of the project is to evaluate new electricity supply options for Atlin including wind, small hydro, and hybrids of these options with the existing diesel system. This would reduce the negative impacts associated with diesel generation and support the sustainability interests of the Atlin community and BC Hydro.
In January 2002, BC Hydro installed wind monitoring equipment on a CBC radio tower in the community. In early October 2002, a wind monitoring tower and data logging equipment were installed on nearby Monarch Mountain. The equipment on both structures will measure and collect data on wind speed, direction and consistency for at least one year, to determine the viability of the wind resource in Atlin.
