BC Hydro Purchases Island Natural Gas Power Generation Facility
The 275-megawatt plant has run about 15 days a year and will stay available for peak demand while BC Hydro expands clean power.
- On Wednesday, BC Hydro announced it acquired the 275-megawatt Island Generation natural gas plant in Campbell River to bolster electricity reliability on Vancouver Island during peak demand periods.
- Operating only about 15 days annually, the facility serves as a cost-effective backup, Energy Minister Adrian Dix stated. The purchase prevents closure, protecting local jobs while ensuring grid stability as the province expands renewable capacity.
- Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl emphasized the plant is essential for emergency preparedness and attracting industrial investment. The facility has supplied power to the grid since 2002, serving as critical infrastructure for the region.
- The acquisition forms part of BC Hydro's broader "Powering Growth" strategy, which includes wind projects and battery storage investments. The utility projects electricity demand will increase 50 per cent by 2050 due to population and industrial expansion.
- Clean Energy BC associate director Evan Pivnick described the move as an "unfortunate necessity" given rising demand expectations. Pivnick emphasized the need for sustainable, long-term solutions that leverage abundant clean energy opportunities beyond fossil fuel reliance.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Province acquires natural-gas power plant in Campbell River
The province is acquiring a natural-gas-fired power-generation facility in Campbell River, calling it a key power source during periods of peak demand and for future growth on Vancouver Island. 'This is a positive day for Campbell River, for Vancouver Island and the province,' Campbell River Mayor K...
BC Hydro's Island Generation Purchase Raises Questions About British Columbia's Electrification Ambitions - Thoughtful Journalism
BC’s recent strategy was a big step backward, more about protecting the status quo than preparing for the Age of Electricity Credit: Capital Power. BC Hydro’s decision to purchase the Island Generation natural gas power plant in Campbell River may solve a reliability problem on Vancouver Island. But it also raises a larger question about whether British Columbia is building the electricity system it will need to electrify its economy. The Crown …
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