B.C. is continuing its push for more power with planned upgrades to several dams throughout the province that the energy minister says will provide as much as 1,000 megawatts of new capacity, a seven-per-cent boost.
“The least expensive thing to do is squeeze every electron out of the network of dams, substations, transmission and distribution systems to ensure we have the capacity we need,” said Adrian Dix, B.C.’s energy minister, at a Wednesday (June 17) press conference.
For comparison, the Horgan Dam (formerly known as Site C) produces about 1,200 megawatts.
The biggest upgrades, which the government had previously announced, will be to the Revelstoke Dam and are expected to add 500 megawatts to the grid. Upgrades will also be done at the Seven Mile, Falls River, Clowhom, Wahleach, Kootenay Canal, Seton, Mica, and G.M. Shrum generating stations.
While the Revelstoke improvements are starting now, some of the other projects aren’t scheduled to begin until well into the next decade.
This effort adds to recent calls for power by BC Hydro, adding enough wind and solar capacity to boost the utility’s electricity supply by 13 per cent, as well as energy efficiency initiatives, adding about 5.5 per cent.
“Our plan is built on three pillars: conserve, optimize and build,” Dix said.