Quesnel mayor worried Site C approval will lead to forestry downturn in 2018

By Andrew Kurjata
CBC News
December 28, 2017
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Bob Simpson

Quesnel mayor Bob Simpson is worried the approval of Site C will have an immediate impact on forestry towns, as BC Hydro will have a reduced need for biomass from the lumber industry in order to meet energy needs in the province. The provincial power provider has several contracts in place to purchase power produced by companies that convert wood waste, or biomass, into electricity. Sources include wood chips and sawdust from mills, and slash from roadsides and logging sites. Simpson said now that the provincial NDP has granted approval for the Site C dam to proceed, he believes BC Hydro will choose not to renew those contracts as they will no longer need the electricity that biomass produces. …In an email, BC Hydro spokesperson David Conway confirmed contracts are being renewed at lower rates but said Site C was not the reason.

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