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Plutonic Power
PLUTONIC POWER'S RHETORIC FROM THEIR WEBSITE www.plutonic.ca
“Plutonic Power Corporation promotes, supports and develops sustainable, renewable, green energy projects in British Columbia. Plutonic Power is a green energy company currently developing a suite of non-storage (run of river) hydroelectric projects in British Columbia. The company's flagship project, the 196 Mega-watt East Toba and Montrose project, is currently under construction, with operation to begin in 2010. Plutonic's run of river projects are environmentally benign, consistent with the Province of British Columbia Energy Plan, desirable as a source of electrical generation and able to significantly impact BC's current energy needs. Plutonic is focussing its efforts on an area of southwest coastal BC that has been termed the Green Power Corridor (GPC). This area covers drainages flowing into Toba, Bute and Knight Inlets. Non-storage (run of river) hydroelectric is one of the most environmentally friendly and commercially viable sources of electricity generation available. Click here for a scorecord as to comparable energy technologies and their impacts on the environment. Twenty four of Plutonic Power's project sites fall within an area that the Company has dubbed "The Green Power Corridor" (GPC). Completion of the Green Power Corridor, at an estimated capital cost of approximately $3 to $4 Billion, would be one of the largest single private sector green electrical generation investments made in British Columbia, creating over 3800 person-years of employment and launching the province to the forefront of green energy generation in North America.”
PERSPECTIVE OF PLUTONIC POWER FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS, LABOUR, COMMUNITY GROUPS
IN THE WATERSHED SENTINEL
Rivers of Riches: From Micro Hydro to Mega Bucks
Published January February 2007
Map of "Power General" Water Licenses, British Columbia 2006
Plutonic Power Corporation is one in a battery of companies flooding BC Hydro with small hydroelectric generation projects. Arthur Caldicott takes a wide-ranging look at small hydro and the issues that arise from it.
Since 2000, BC Hydro has received dozens of small hydroelectric generation proposals. Fourteen are now producing electricity. BC Hydro has signed Electricity Purchase Agreements (EPAs) with about sixty of them, totaling nearly 1500 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity, about an eighth of all provincial generation. And there are many more proposals to come.
The largest small hydro plant in service so far is Rutherford Creek, just south of Pemberton, capable of generating 50 MW. The largest project is Plutonic's East Toba River and Montrose Creek Hydroelectric Project, consisting of two interconnected hydro plants totalling 196 MW. On the micro-hydro end of the small hydro scale are numerous schemes under 10 MW. The smallest, at only 0.2 MW, is also the cleverest, West Vancouver's Eagle Lake. These are not the massive dam and reservoir projects of BC's "heritage" systems such as the G.M. Shrum generating station where the Peace River now begins, capable of pumping out more than 2700 MW at full throttle — by itself a quarter of BC's capacity.
But what these new projects don't have in size, they make up in sheer numbers. They are making it up in intrusions into hundreds of undeveloped areas with roads, dams, pipelines, temporary construction camps, and a permanent spiderwork of transmission lines. They are making it up in dozens of issues affecting communities and local governments. And they are more than making it up in creation of phenomenal wealth that will transfer from the pockets of British Columbia's electricity users and run straight into the hands of company shareholders.
All is not well with small hydro in BC.
Download the pdf of the Watershed Sentinel article www.watershedsentinel.ca
Download the full 27 page article with references and additional CRITIQUE BY ENVIRONMENTALIST , LABOUR, COMMUNITY GROUPS on New Private Power Projects
www.cope378.ca/tags/plutonic-power
ENVIRONMENTALIST, LABOUR, COMMUNITY GROUPS RENEW CALL FOR PRIVATE POWER MORATORIUM AFTER NEW DAM MEGAPROJECT ANNOUNCED
18-Dam Project, Roads, Transmission Lines Proposed for Pristine Wilderness in Bute Inlet
Community, environmental, and labour groups are renewing their call for a government moratorium on private power projects in the wake of the announcement that Plutonic Power is proceeding with a massive hydroelectric project with 18 dams in pristine Bute Inlet. These groups are also calling on Plutonic Power to hold several community consultations, including in major population centres.
"Let's be clear: this is not green power," said Joe Foy of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. "When you build 18 dams, as well as roads, bridges, and transmission lines in salmon country and grizzly habitat without adequate public environmental oversight, you have no right to cloak yourself in a green veneer," said Foy.
"If the government was prepared to rule that the Upper Pitt private power projects were not in the public interest, how can they possibly claim that a project that is three times bigger is?" asked Foy.
"Plutonic Power and the BC government need to make sure that the people of British Columbia have their say, and this includes holding public meetings and community consultations in surrounding communities, and also in population centres like Vancouver," said Andy Ross, President of the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 (COPE 378).
"This is a province-wide issue, facilitated by a faulty and politicized Energy Plan, and the government needs to impose an immediate moratorium so that British Columbians can determine if these privately owned megaprojects are actually in the public interest," added Ross.
Plutonic Power is planning a total of 40 dams and weirs in the region, which includes Bute Inlet and the Toba Inlet, north of Powell River. The projects will involve a 360 kV transmission line possibly through old growth management areas, and will also involve numerous roads and bridges in the area.
In Plutonic's press release announcing this development, CEO Donald McInnes is quoted saying that a higher voltage line is being used "to address the potential of accommodation of future projects," indicating that the company plans even more power projects in this area.
"Private power companies are looking at our region with the zeal of a gold rush prospector," said Denise Reinhardt of Malaspina Communities for Public Power in Powell River. "But this ecosystem is at its breaking point, and Plutonic is indicating that they just plan to keep going building more dams and more transmission lines, regardless of its impacts," added Reinhardt.
Conclusive research by SFU Economist Dr Marvin Shaffer has shown that there is no need to rush to develop these facilities, and that private run-of-river projects cost too much, provide inconsistent electricity, and have major environmental impacts.
Community, environmental, and labour groups are calling on Plutonic and the BC government to hold public consultation in the communities nearby Bute Inlet, and also in major population centres including Vancouver and Victoria. They are also calling for a government moratorium on these projects.
CANCELLATION OF UPPER PITT IPP PROVES FAULTS WITH BC’S ENERGY PLAN
Project shows that run of river power is not green, not affordable, not needed: Union (COPE 378)
March 26, 2008
Vancouver, BC - Today's decision by the BC Government to bow to public pressure and cancel the private power projects on the Upper Pitt River demonstrates the need to step back and reassess the private development of run of river projects across the BC, according to the union representing workers in BC energy's sector. "The government's decision to pull the plug on this project proves just how powerful an impact community involvement can be in raising the alarm about unnecessary projects like this," said Andy Ross, President of the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378 (COPE 378). "This decision also demonstrates that the development of hundreds of similar projects throughout BC needs to be re-assessed so that British Columbians can determine what the cumulative environmental and economic impacts of these projects are," added Ross.
"One of the clearest messages that the government has given with its decision is that privately-developed run of river power is simply not green," said Ross.
COPE 378 has worked closely with community, environmental, and conservationist groups in leading the opposition to the gold rush of private power development across BC. COPE 378's Take Back the Power campaign will continue to work with these coalitions in developing an energy strategy that is actually green, respects community interest, is publicly owned, and that implements a genuine approach to sustainability and conservation.
"The government can't honestly say that the Upper Pitt was a one-off, and that the dozens of other megaprojects around the province are completely different," said Ross. "Plutonic Power is proceeding with its 34-dams near Powell River with transmission lines that will traverse old growth forests, but the government appears to be giving Plutonic carte blanche, as they also appear to be doing with dozens of similar projects in the Kootenays," added Ross.
COPE 378 is calling for the government to implement an immediate moratorium on the development of privately-owned power in BC in order to assess the cumulative environmental, economic, and community impacts of these projects.
Independent research commissioned from SFU Economist Dr Marvin Shaffer demonstrates that there is no looming energy crisis in BC. This research also shows that the province has the time and space needed to properly assess long term energy requirements and the economic impacts of these, without taking the sort of environmental and economic risks demonstrated by private power projects like those in the Upper Pitt. This research is available at publicpowerbc.ca.
"The government needs to stop its political interference in energy policy and focus on meeting the needs of British Columbians, not facilitating an irresponsible gold rush," concluded Ross.
Plutonic Power was a sponsor of the PNWER (Pacific Northwest Economic Region) Summit in Vancouver, July 20-24, 2008.
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