The EPA (electricity purchase agreement) for the Glacier-Howser project allows a capacity of 40.5 and 50 megawatts, respectively, for a total capacity of 90.5 MW.
The proponent states that the potential installed capacity could reach a maximum of 125 MW, and that work is currently underway to confirm the feasibility of the capacity increase.
A 6.8 km tunnel from the Glacier Creek intake and an 8.5 km tunnel from the Howser Creek intake will convey water to the power station on the Duncan reservoir. The underground tunnels are designed to allow a flow of 23 cubic metres/second from Howser and 14 cubic metres on Glacier.
The proposed transmission line will cover a length of 91.5 km, crossing the Purcell Mountain range and connecting to the Invermere substation. The corridor width needed to safely facilitate a transmission line is between 25-39 metres, with some estimates as high as 100 metres in certain areas.
In 2002 the provincial government announced its Energy Plan, which saw over 500 creeks and rivers staked by IPPs and the water-for-power licences purchased for between $5,000-10,000. Currently 43 IPPs are operating within the province, and another 33 have applied or been granted Environmental Assessment Certification.
A public information forum entitled Rivers at Risk was held on April 22, hosted by COPE 378, Council of Canadians, Wildsight and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee to discuss the environmental and economical impact of Independent Power Projects throughout the province.
COPE 378 representative Sage Aaron described the Energy Plan as fundamentally flawed.
"No matter what the government says, we are well down the road to privatizing our resources," said Aaron, stating that the 'green' projects will cause habitat destruction and won't encourage less consumption.
"Private producers are interested in the bottom line: making money. They won't encourage us to use less of their product."
Columbia River - Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald believes that the move away from profitable Crown corporation BC Hydro isn't a wise one, and will lead to increased hydro rates.
"Why would we move away from that?" questioned Macdonald.
He went on to point out government loophole Bill 30 Sec. 56, which removes local government from making a final decision on private power projects. An IPP licence on the Ashlu River on the coast, hel by Ledcor, was voted against 8-1 by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, yet the provincial government approved it with Bill 3-, and the construction got underway in late 2006.
"There's something fundamentally flawed with something that removes us from decisions in our area," he added.
It was indicated at the forum that the local IPP proponent, Purcell Green Power, will be holding open houses sometime this summer or early fall, although no information was available on Purcell's web site, www.purcellgreenpower.com.