IPP’s back in news: Here we go again, says MLA Macdonald

By CAROLYN GRANT

Kimberley Daily Bulletin

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The controversial proposal for a run of river Glacier Howser independent power project in the West Kootenay has been resubmitted for approval.

Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald, a critic of IPP’s, says that local people, including those in the East Kootenay, must be properly consulted.

The proposal is for two run-of-river hydroelectric generation stations on Glacier and Howser Creek near Meadow Creek.  Electricity produced from the independent power project (IPP) will run through transmission lines, through the Purcells, to the substation in Invermere.

“The Glacier Howser project has a huge impact in the Columbia Valley.  There is a huge question on the impact on creeks in the West Kootenay and huge impacts in the East Kootenay and the integrity of the Purcells with the approach to Invermere, the power line,” Macdonald said.

He says that the public must be properly consulted – not just through open houses, but through proper public meetings with question and answer sessions.

“Last time the meetings were scheduled at a time of year – summer – when people are busy.  The meetings were open houses not proper public meetings.  The way it should properly proceed is with the ability of local people to say no.  The government’s Bill 30 took that away.

“Trying to sneak it through in the summer months is wrong.  The meetings should be in September.  And there have to be meetings in the East Kootenay, especially in Invermere.  We need to make the process the best it can be.”

The Glacier Howser project was denied through the environmental assessment process prior to the provincial election.  Macdonald finds it interesting that it has come up again so soon after the election.

“It was denied pre-election but they wouldn’t release the reasons it was turned down.  Why was it turned down?  Why is that information not available?  And now, post-election, it’s back.”