Premier Christy Clark has written to the NDP and Green Party leaders, warning that a delay in removing two homes from the path of a Site C dam road could delay the project by a year and cost as much as $600 million.
In letters released Tuesday, Clark asked both NDP leader John Horgan and B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver to reconsider Horgan鈥檚 request to delay the removal of two homes on land expropriated by BC Hydro for the third dam on the Peace River.
A decision must be made by June 15 on whether to proceed, Clark wrote. Her letters also ask:
鈥溾�hether or not you would like government to issue a 鈥榯ools down鈥� request to BC Hydro on the other decisions that are essential in maintaining the budget and construction schedule of the Site C Clean Energy Project, given that the project is likely to progress past the 鈥榩oint of no return鈥� before the B.C. Utilities Commission review you have suggested could be reasonably concluded.鈥�
Horgan responded Tuesday, calling Clark鈥檚 claims of cost escalation 鈥渦nsupported鈥� and accusing the B.C. Liberals of driving up BC Hydro bills due to 鈥渕ismanagement鈥� of the project.
Weaver also responded to Clark鈥檚 letter Tuesday, saying he would need access to official documents on the project before he could respond to her questions.
Horgan wrote to BC Hydro CEO Jessica McDonald May 31 to ask for a lease extension for two families, including Peace Valley Landowner Association members Ken and Arlene Boon, whose homes are on a road right-of-way needed for the dam.
鈥淚 believe there is no demonstrated short-term need to force these families from their homes, and because the status of the next governments of British Columbia are uncertain, the threat of imminent removal of residents from their expropriated homes and property is unreasonable,鈥� Horgan wrote.
Clark鈥檚 letter says 鈥渢he relocation of the homes in question is necessary as part of a two-year road and bridge construction project that will enable river diversion to occur in September 2019.鈥�
River diversion has to be done when water is low in summer, not in winter when the two existing Peace River dams are running water through turbines to supply winter electricity demand.
鈥淧reliminary work undertaken on this issue by BC Hydro indicates that should river diversion not be completed as scheduled, a year-long delay would occur in order to divert the river during the next low-flow period, in September 2020,鈥� Clark wrote. 鈥淭his one-year delay is estimated to cost ratepayers $600 million.鈥�
鈥淕iven the obligation that BC Hydro has in place with respect to road construction and completion, a decision to proceed will need to be made no later than June 15, 2017 in order to maintain the September 2019 river diversion schedule.鈥�
Weaver responded to Clark鈥檚 letter Tuesday, saying he would need access to official documents on the project before he could respond to her questions.
