In early November 2024, the newly constructed Site C hydroelectric dam in northeastern British Columbia reached a key milestone: its reservoir was fully filled.
The dam’s first generation unit is now in operation, and testing is underway for the second generation unit.
When all six of Site C’s generation units are operational by Fall 2025, it will have an output capacity of 1,100 megawatts and produce about 5,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually — enough power for the equivalent of 450,000 homes or 1.7 million battery-electric cars. Furthermore, Site C’s generation capacity is pegged at 1,100 megawatts (MW).
Site C will increase BC Hydro’s electrical capacity by 8%.
Although the dam project was nearly cancelled about seven years ago due to a change of provincial government leadership, Site C alone is insufficient to meet the electrical demand of British Columbia. In June 2023, BC Hydro first announced it would need to buy significantly more power, as demand for electricity will grow much faster than previously anticipated — rising by 15% between 2023 and 2030.
This pace of growth is largely due to the accelerating adoption of battery-electric vehicles, the transition to electric heating systems for buildings, and rapid population and economic growth.
November 2024 milestone of Site C hydroelectric dam’s reservoir being fully filled. (BC Hydro)
This subsequently led to BC Hydro initiating a bidding process calling for proposals for new sources of 100% clean, renewable electricity, such as hydro, solar, and wind. At the time, it indicated that as early as 2028, it would need an additional 3,000 GWh of capacity — equivalent to 59% of the capacity of Site C, which was last stated in 2021 to have a $16 billion construction cost.
Today, BC Hydro announced that it has selected nine private sector-led projects, all of which focus on wind power, from this bidding process.
All nine wind power projects combined will provide about 5,000 GWh per year, which is nearly the same output capacity as Site C and goes beyond the original call for 3,000 GWh.
These projects, each creating massive wind farms, will be scattered across the province.
Each project’s generation capacity ranges between 94 MW and 200 MW, equivalent to between 8.5% and up to 18% of Site C’s generation capacity.
Rope access technician atop a wind turbine in northern British Columbia. (Patrick Lynch/supplied)
According to BC Hydro, these projects will be funded by the private sector and have an estimated combined total construction cost of between $5 billion and $6 billion.
Eight of the nine selected wind power projects will have 51% equity ownership for First Nations. This goes above the minimum requirement of 25% First Nations ownership, as outlined during the bidding process.
As a result, First Nations will own between $2.5 billion and $3 billion in these wind power projects.
“First Nations have been leading the clean energy sector, developing projects that further energy independence, creating new economic opportunities for everyone, and powering their communities. First Nation leadership is essential to moving BC to a better future where we achieve our clean energy goals,” said Christine Boyle, BC’s minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, in a statement.
Rope access technician atop a wind turbine in northern British Columbia. (Patrick Lynch/supplied)
With the involvement of First Nations and the need to generate additional electricity as soon as possible due to rapidly rising demand, all nine projects and all future wind power projects in BC will not require any environmental assessment process, which can add years to the timeline of projects based on past precedents.
“We need these new energy generation projects urgently to meet growing demand for power and accelerate our efforts to build a prosperous and inclusive clean economy,” said Adrian Dix, BC’s minister of energy and climate solutions.
“Now that the projects have been selected, we’re going to work together with BC Hydro, First Nations and proponents to get these projects built quickly, responsibly and efficiently, and get those turbines spinning.”
To ensure the projects are completed as efficiently as possible, the Province intends to exempt these wind projects and all future wind projects in BC from environmental assessment while protecting and maintaining First Nations interests and environmental mitigations.
According to the provincial government, the cost of new wind power has dropped substantially over the past decade, representing a 40% drop compared to BC Hydro’s last call for clean power in 2010.