BC Hydro 2005 Integrated Electricity Plan (IEP) & BCTC s Capital Plan Kamloops First Nations Info Session Final Meeting Notes

Transcription

1 Info Session Date and Location January 13, 2005 Coast Canadian Inn 339 St. Paul Ave., Kamloops, B.C. Attendees Name Chief Ervin Charleyboy Councillor Ron Murphy Chief Hank Adam Chief Stephen Dick Lindsay Tighe Art Froste Chief Harold Aljam Donna Gallinger Bert Kirkpatrick Robert Corman Interest/Organization Alexis Creek First Nation & Chair of T silquotin Nation Canoe Creek Indian Band Canoe Creek Indian Band Lower Nicola Indian Band Lower Nicola Indian Band Oregon Jack Creek Indian Band Coldwater Indian Band Nicomen Lake Indian Band Ashcroft Indian Band Kamloops Indian Band BC Hydro/IEP Representatives Name Organization Responsibility Claire Marshall BC Hydro Presenter/Note Taker Ryanne Metcalfe BC Hydro Presenter Cheryl Brooks Independent Consultant Facilitator Denise Mullen-Dalmer BC Transmission Corporation Technical Resource Discussion Highlights Many concerns raised about transmission lines impacts. Unease regarding the potential safety hazards of an ageing transmission system. Strong interest in the planning and regulatory process of building new transmission lines. Interest in opportunities to develop private power projects. Issues raised related to quality and reliability of power. Desire for improved communication and notification systems with First Nations. Interest in employment, economic development and procurement opportunities. Opposition to generation of power for export purposes. Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 1 of 7

2 1. Introduction and Overview Cheryl Brooks provided opening remarks and stated the purpose of the meeting. The objectives of the meeting are: To enhance First Nations participants understanding of the electrical utility sector and regulatory processes, particularly opportunities for First Nations input and influence; To report back on the First Nations input to the 2004 Integrated Electricity Plan (IEP); To elicit and discuss First Nations values related to electricity planning; To discuss possible approaches to engage in on-going dialogue with First Nations on planning and other issues; To introduce the values based decision analysis tool. During last year s IEP information sessions, several First Nations participants mentioned that despite the separation of BC Hydro and British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) they still saw the companies as integrally linked and wanted to deal with them in a coordinated way. Based on this feedback, BC Hydro and BCTC have agreed to work together to coordinate First Nations communication and engagement activities regarding their respective long term planning processes. Last year many First Nations also told BC Hydro that they wanted to enhance their understanding and capacity to deal with energy related issues. These information sessions were designed to provide some understanding of the electricity regulation and on-going planning sessions that will take place to provide further opportunities to increase capacity. 2. Overview of the Electricity Sector Claire Marshall and Denise Mullen-Dalmer started with an overview of the electricity sector. Questions and Answers What is the status of the California electricity sales? A team member indicated there was a partial out of court settlement. There were two court cases; BC Hydro won the first one and the other is dormant. California was alleging that BC Hydro was charging too much for the power. Is it possible to get copies of the B.C. Energy Plan? A team member offered the web site link and to mail out the plan if specifically requested. Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 2 of 7

3 What is BC Hydro s consultation policy? A team member indicated that BC Hydro s consultation policy is consistent with provincial policy. What is the approval timeline for Independent Power Producers (IPPs)? IPP approvals generally take 3-4 years. Is there a checklist of approvals for small projects? A team member responded that there are some generic sources to develop a checklist of required approvals such as, the provincial environmental assessment office and the Independent Power Producers Association of B.C.. Is there a limit to how many IPPs can be developed across the province? A team member advised there is an obligation to meet the demand for electricity. We don t know how many IPP projects it would take to meet the demand or even if IPPs are the right way to meet demand so there is no limit to the number of IPPs that can be developed. Part of what the IEP is about is to determine people s preferences about how power should be supplied in B.C.. A participant suggested that it seems to make more sense to have a lot of smaller diversified sources than just relying on large hydroelectric projects. A team member responded that there is no definite yes or no answer to that, there are a lot of variables to consider and the IEP will explore those kinds of questions. 3. Integrated Electricity Plan (IEP) Ryanne Metcalfe provided a presentation on the 2005 IEP. The following questions were addressed during this presentation: Where is the location of the wind project you mentioned? There is one wind project with an Electricity Purchase Agreement on Northern Vancouver Island. There is another one proposed on the Queen Charlotte Islands. If consumption is growing at 1.5 per cent, what is production growing at? Production does not yet meet consumption. It is challenging to know exactly how and when to match the development of new production. Again, part of this is explored through the IEP discussions. Why are we selling power to the United States? I am opposed to building power in B.C. to sell elsewhere. BC Hydro s mandate is to only build or acquire resources to supply our domestic customers needs. However, we keep good relationships with neighbouring states and provinces so we can provide back up and support to each other in case of a system failure. Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 3 of 7

4 If there are 2 provinces and 11 states in this interconnected system, how much energy does B.C. contribute? B.C. contributes approximately 10 per cent to the transmission system. What is BC Hydro s position on the Sumas Energy 2 gas plant? Sumas is not part of the IEP resource plan. The status of the plant is that the developers are appealing the National Energy Board decision to not allow them transmission rights in Canada based on public concerns. That appeal is before the federal court of Canada. We have a lot of outages and problems related to that (Nicomen Lake Band between Lytton & Spences Bridge in the Fraser Canyon). We ve recently had three power outages that lasted for three hours. Who can we raise this with? Document your problems and BC Hydro will compare it to what others in your area are experiencing if it is the same pattern of problems than it might be weather related. However, if your problem is different or greater than others are, then it might require a closer look. Send a letter to Claire Marshall and she will raise it with the correct people. Where would the preferred portfolio appear in the REAP? The preferred portfolio hasn t yet been part of the REAP. Last year was the first integrated electricity planning process in the past 10 years and we didn t come up with a preferred portfolio. We hope this year we will create one. The process to create a preferred portfolio is a complex and systematic process, which involves combining data, information and values to reach decisions that incorporate many perspectives and views. Are you saying that if we actually need more power in the next 8 or so years and you said earlier that it could take roughly 7 8 years to get projects in operation, then we are at a critical point now right? Yes, we need to make some decisions soon to ensure we can meet demand. Is this IEP process happening in response to consultation changes coming out of the Haida and Taku court cases? No, the IEP process was actually driven by a new regulatory environment and the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) has public consultation guidelines. Is BC Hydro and BCTC changing the way they consult with First Nations as a result of the Haida-Taku cases? At this time, we are still following the provincial guidelines on consultation, which means we formally consult when an actual activity that could impact on rights is about to start. This process is not consultation but information exchange and dialogue. For today s record, we want it noted that this is not consultation. This is very important to us because many people are even afraid to come to meetings like this because then someone will say they have consulted with them. You should also make this clear in your invitations and meeting notices. A team member responded that we will note that this is not consultation and we will be clearer about that in invitations. Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 4 of 7

5 4. British Columbia Transmission Corporation s Capital Plan Denise Mullen-Dalmer provided an overview of BCTC s Capital Plan. The following comments and questions were raised: If you had to put in a new transmission line, would you consider all of our issues like medicinal plants, gathering, wildlife and so on and then route it where there is the least impact to us? The IEP itself won t deal with that level of reviewing the route of transmission lines and its specific impacts, but it will give an opportunity for you to talk about your values on protecting land and resources, which might influence your choice of resource portfolios. For example, some First Nations might not want any more transmission impacts and therefore they may not want a lot of new projects that require an interconnection to the transmission grid that type of information will be incorporated into the ongoing IEP plans. BCTC does want to hear your concerns about new transmission lines related to our discussions on the Capital Plan. Given that the transmission system is ageing, what is being done to address that? Some regular replacement activities and some upgrades are occurring to maintain the system. BCTC inspects the transmission system twice a year and plans work accordingly. Why don t your workers talk to us about what they are doing when they come on the reserve? BC Hydro s standard practice is to notify the band office in writing when staff does work on the reserve. What works best for us is having somebody stop into the office and talk to us in person that way we can hear what they are doing, but also ask questions if we have any concerns. We need improved access to information on BC Hydro and BCTC activities. Do you have a communications coordinator? It is Claire Marshall for this process and we having been faxing and mailing letters out to each First Nations with follow-up by phone calls. For people who may have missed these meetings but want to attend the next sessions please let her know. Are we ever going to be asked to tender on work that you are doing on our reserves and in our territories? We are still not being informed of tendering opportunities. BCTC is still working out its procurement policy, BC Hydro is currently reviewing its procurement policy to increase the number of contracts to First Nations. We have trained staff and capacity in forestry, pest management, herbicide management and rights of way clearing. Much of the right of way is on agricultural land and we need to be consulted on the times when they do right of way work so it doesn t cause crop damage. Many First Nations would like to see you be more proactive about offering contracting opportunities to them, and consider preferential contracting or set-asides for Aboriginal contractors. Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 5 of 7

6 5. Exercise on Electricity Development In pairs, participants completed the attached discussion guide on values related to electricity planning. Each group reported out on their discussion. Participants comments from flipchart notes from exercise: 1) Thinking about electricity, list ways you use it daily: - Cooking, heating, freezers - Computers, recreation like radio and TV - Water pumps - Economic activities - Phone lines 2) What happens if the electricity is not available? - Cold or hot, boredom, not occupied - Hear war stories - No cooking - Food rots/loss of food - People talk to each other or read instead of watch TV 3) For future electricity development, what is important? - Protection of environment - Making sure it is just for B.C., no one else - Keeping up with demand - Ensuring that the development process has meaningful consultation with First Nations - That First Nations get economic and employment opportunities - Cost and reliability 4) What is most important about future transmission development? - Good consultation, come to First Nations and present our plan and get our input on the big picture as well as on the specific projects - Also to find out how First Nations want to be consulted with from the start through to the finish - Ensure that our interests are portrayed and understood and what the impacts will be on us, whether it s loss of land, opportunities or loss of meaningful sites of cultural or traditional importance - Restricting the amount of land that is covered up by transmission especially when all the power is being sent to the Lower Mainland - We don t receive benefits - only impacts - Cost efficiency make sure the right choice is made between replacing old equipment or putting in new equipment and set new priorities Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 6 of 7

7 5) In developing transmission what opportunities do you see? - Construction and clearing work - Training opportunities for improving capacity - Revenue sharing - Right of way and taxation negotiation 6) What about transmission impacts? - Loss of resources - Useable lands for other purposes are limited - Loss of habitat and impact on wildlife populations - Can damage plants and gathering areas - Destroys migration routes for wildlife Contact Details Website: Phone: (BC Hydro) iep.2005@bchyrdo.com Meeting held January 13, 2005 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops Page 7 of 7