Lively crowd protests energy project
By SALLY WADDINGTON
Columbia Valley Pioneer
July 3, 2009
About 80 people gathered outside Invermere Community Hall last Thursday night to protest a fun-of-river hydro project in the West Kootenay.
The protesters carried placards, banners and streamers, chanted and played drums. They were led by representatives of Wildsight, the Golden chapter of the Council of Canadians, and MLA Norm Macdonald.
The demonstration was held before an open house conducted by the BC Environmental Assessment Office on behalf of Purcell Green Power, a subsidiary of AXOR Group. Owned by Montreal businessman Yvan Dupont, AXOR is a multidisciplinary construction firm in power projects.
An identical open house in Kaslo on Tuesday, June 23rd, drew 1,100 people, more than the entire population of the village. Most of the protesters there came from Nelson.
After the Invermere demonstration, the crowd flowed into the community hall and were joined by about 40 other members of the public.
Purcell Green Power explained that it proposes to build and operate two hydroelectric facilities on the east side of Duncan Reservoir, near Meadow Creek, north of Kaslo. The facilities would divert water from Glacier and Howser Creeks and produce 99.5 megawatts of electricity. That electricity would then be passed along a 92.3 kilometre transmission line that would be built across the Purcells to Invermere’s BC Hydro substation.
During a lengthy question period, members of the community asked questions and made comments to Purcell Green Power, the Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
The discussion touched on issues such as damage to old-growth forest, the negative impact on the fish population, the privatization of power, and how the creeks would be monitored if the project goes ahead.
Gerry Wilkie, director of Area G in the Regional District of East Kootenay, drew applause from the audience when he commented on Purcell Green Power’s $150,000 contribution to property and school taxes in the area.
“We are being asked to take in a project that has terrific environmental impact,” he said. “I don’t think there will ever be enough money to make us think that is okay.”
Purcell’s project manager Simon Gourdeau said the project will contribute in other ways as well.
“Our power would benefit and reinforce the area and reduce potential blackouts,” Mr. Gourdeau said. “If we deliver power to the Invermere substation, everyone keeps their lights on.”
Jasmine Montgomery, who is in Grade 8 at David Thompson Secondary School, spoke on behalf of her generation.
“I have lived in Invermere all my life,” she said. “When I heard that our rivers were going to be sold, I told a whole bunch of my friends and we all agreed that’s not exactly right.”
Golden resident Trevor Hamre was more direct.
“What will it take for you to go away?” he asked Purcell Green Power. “Because we’re committed to making that happen.”
Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald said the decision should be made locally.
“This project, to many people in this community, is highly offensive,” Mr. Macdonald said. “It is not acceptable that projects we think are inappropriate are imposed on us.
“You’ve seen how many people have come out on a night when 600 people are attending a graduation ceremony,” he added. “Take away with you that passion and commitment, to make sure the decision is made in our land by these people.”
Mr. Gourdeau insisted that the project is a valuable step away from carbon-based power.
“The province has decided to move towards renewable energy as much as it can,” he pointed out. “We have been working very hard for years and years to minimize the effect of this project as much as we can. We believe we have a very good project on the table.”
The Invermere open house was the last one planned by Environmental Assessment Office. The public comment period ends on July 27th. The office will consider input and technical studies before making its decision before November 30th.