BC Hydro seeks biomass projects to develop new sources of clean made-in-B.C. energy
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro has released details of the second phase of the Bioenergy Call for Power. The Crown corporation is requesting proposals from projects utilizing any form of clean or renewable biomass. That includes forest-based biomass and sawmill residue, and potentially dedicated energy crops, organically sourced material separated from municipal solid waste, and other fuels.
"We are following through on our Clean Energy Act commitment to build a strong future for new sources of clean electricity in B.C. as we move towards becoming electricity self-sufficient by 2016," said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. "The call will also strengthen B.C. communities and diversify local economies by creating new job opportunities."
The call for bioenergy proposals is being issued provincewide. The Ministry of Forests and Range has identified the following areas as having available fibre supply: the Smithers/Fort St. James corridor, Mackenzie, Northeast B.C., Central and Northern Vancouver Island, Cariboo-Chilcotin, and Northwest B.C.
"We're looking for projects that take fuel sources that might otherwise go to waste and use it to generate clean power for British Columbia's benefit," said David Cobb, BC Hydro president and CEO. "We are targeting up to 1,000 gigawatt hours per year of cost-effective energy – that's enough to power close to 89,000 homes or a community the size of Kamloops."
This second phase of the Bioenergy Call is the latest BC Hydro bioenergy initiative and follows the Community-Based Biomass Request for Qualifications issued in April, the Integrated Power Offer for pulp and paper customers that is currently underway, and phase one of the Bioenergy Call, which resulted in electricity purchase agreements for 580 gigawatt hours per year of clean power.
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