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Environmental flags raised on Westbank First Nation wind farm

In December 2024, BC Hydro awarded 30-year power purchase agreements to nine wind projects, including the K2 Wind Energy Project on Westbank First Nation land.
The projects were exempted from B.C.'s environmental assessment to accelerate development amid urgent climate action needs, a justification upheld by Minister Adrian Dix.
The K2 Wind Energy initiative, jointly launched by Westbank First Nation and Innergex Renewable Energy, is situated within the Pennask watershed, an area renowned for hosting the largest wild rainbow trout population globally, prompting environmental concerns.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation, led by Jesse Zeman, cited research highlighting serious threats to trout habitats from harmful minerals and acidic runoff, pointing to environmental damage caused by similar issues during the Highway 97C construction nearby in the late 1980s.
Construction of the K2 Wind Energy Project is planned for 2028, but critics emphasize that full environmental reviews and test excavations remain essential before breaking ground.

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