BC Hydro proceeds with next step of Clean Power Call
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro is continuing to advance the Clean Power Call to acquire clean, renewable and cost-effective electricity, the crown corporation announced today. The Clean Power Call will support the BC Energy Plan's goal of achieving electricity self-sufficiency in the province by 2016. In addition, it will support the province's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage economic development.
"Clean, renewable energy continues to be a cornerstone of B.C.'s Climate Action Plan. At the same time, the development of a clean energy sector will create jobs and new economic opportunities in B.C.," said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. "The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the development of a renewable power industry will mean B.C. will have more allowances to allocate to the cap and trade system, which is good for B.C.'s economy."
"BC Hydro is committed to working with companies that provide clean, renewable power to find new sources of cost-effective energy to help meet new energy demand as we look towards serving future generations of customers in the province," said Bob Elton, BC Hydro president and chief executive officer.
BC Hydro received a total of 68 proposals representing more than 17,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity. BC Hydro has eliminated 21 proposals that are not proceeding in the Clean Power Call either because proponents withdrew their proposals; the proposals did not meet the requirements of the request for proposals, or the proposals were considered to have too high a level of risk. BC Hydro will now move forward with discussions aimed at securing electricity purchase agreements with the proponents of the 13 proposals that have been identified as the most cost-effective. In addition, BC Hydro will provide an opportunity for the proponents of the remaining 34 proposals to make their proposals more cost-effective. Proposals remaining in the Clean Power Call include hydro, wind and waste heat.
BC Hydro intends to begin awarding contracts for the Clean Power Call in December and plans to file the agreements with the British Columbia Utilities Commission in early 2010. For a list of proposals continuing in the call process, please go to Clean Power proposals site.
The Clean Power Call complements BC Hydro's two-phase Bioenergy Call for Power, which will utilize wood infected by the mountain pine beetle as well as other wood fibre and biomass fuel sources to supply firm, clean energy.
Contact:
Susan Danard
Media Relations
Phone: 604 623 4220