... what is this fascination and haste in B.C, with regard to "small hydro"? Just how "environmental" is diverting water from hundreds of untouched riverbeds and stringing thousands of kilometres of transmission lines through remote canyons and forests in an exclusively southerly direction?
Realistically, any government energy plan should demonstrate intent to provide the power produced within the province first and foremost to provincial residents. However, the obvious nature of the small-hydro generation schedule in B.C. is the complete inverse of the province's electrical demand: Peak electrical yield is anticipated during summer snowmelt, while greatest consumption consistently occurs during the winter months. Such a basic consideration cannot have been overlooked by policy-makers. As such, the non-subtlety of the IPPs' true intent behind small-hydro development seems rather inescapable: To sell off excesses in supply during peak production to neighbouring provinces, and particularly to the U.S., with the primary goal of maximizing profit. In fact, "maximize" doesn't even begin to come close to describing the massive, multimillion-dollar returns an IPP recognizes on long-term investment in small hydro in B.C.
Toba is true B.C. wilderness — a beautiful, unspoiled region of inspiring grandeur. But what impact will small-hydro actually have on this and other wilderness ecosystems currently under threat in our province? Do the anticipated environmental effects of a single watercourse diversion translate to an entirely cumulative effect when many small-hydro projects are placed in close proximity, or do their combined ecological consequences become exponential at some point?
Frankly, we just don't know. No one does, yet. But development continues unabated and increasingly unrestricted. And therein resides the fundamental hubris conspicuously present in hindsight in every single known environmental mishap to date.
... The frenetic, IPP-driven rush to embrace all manner of "environmentally sensitive" power development has the potential, paradoxically, to culminate in extensive environmental degradation of our most vulnerable and valuable remaining wilderness ecosystems — beautiful B.C.'s rivers and streams. As the late, great Edward Abbey spoke: "I come more and more to the conclusion that wilderness, in America or anywhere else, is the only thing left that is worth saving."
Stephen Hunt is a member of the B.C. Creek Protection Society
