2007 Bioenergy RFEOI

In order to encourage greater development and use of "home-grown", wood-fired electricity in the province, and to help address the mountain pine beetle (MPB) emergency and capture value from the affected timber, BC Hydro released in March 2007 a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to assess and identify potential bioenergy projects and proponents for using residual wood, including sawmill residues, logging debris and a growing supply of timber killed by mountain pine beetle, for power production.

In addition, the purpose of the RFEOI was to gain input into how BC Hydro might effectively design a call for power for these bioenergy projects and to help the British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range in determining wood biofuel requirements.

This RFEOI was in response to the new BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership released on February 27, 2007. BC Hydro invited all parties intending to participate in the Bioenergy Call to submit a response to this RFEOI by April 17, 2007.

• RFEOI form [PDF, 85 Kb]

This RFEOI was not a pre-qualification process. Not responding to the RFEOI will not prohibit prospective Proponents from participating in BC Hydro's future power acquisition processes.

RFEOI process outcome

The RFEOI was a success with more than 80 responses. The information received from the respondents provided significant input as BC Hydro moved forward in designing the Bioenergy Call. The process has also served to build new relationships across the forestry and energy sectors.

BC Hydro subsequently consulted with key stakeholders, including forestry companies and industry associations, First Nations and Independent Power Producers. On April 3, 2007, BC Hydro, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Forests and Range hosted the 2007 Bioenergy RFEOI Information Session in Prince George, which attracted several hundred people. BC Hydro also talked directly with respondents to the RFEOI.

What we heard

The volume and diversity of submissions indicated a strong interest in emerging bioenergy opportunities and a keen interest in moving forward with a Bioenergy Call.

Stakeholders also raised some key issues that they would like to have addressed, including tenure changes to secure the fuel supply, sufficient time to ready proposals and the need to mitigate any impacts on existing users of residual wood material.

As a result of feedback from the RFEOI respondents and other stakeholders, BC Hydro, the Ministry of Forests and Range and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources decided to allow time for further consultation with stakeholders and First Nations, as well as an opportunity for further data collection and policy analysis.

What happened next

BC Hydro and the province have listened to stakeholders, and have been working diligently on responding to their input and incorporating it to address the issues raised by prospective Proponents and designing a call process that will create a robust competition.

We have also engaged in broader discussions with potential power producers, other key stakeholders and First Nations to ensure their active involvement.

On August 22, 2007, BC Hydro hosted a meeting with stakeholders on the Bioenergy Call. The meeting focused on mechanisms that BC Hydro could consider to help address the potential impact of the Bioenergy Call on existing users of residual wood products in B.C. A meeting summary is available for review.