New Wind Projects To Boost B.C.’S Affordable Clean-Energy Supply

BC Hydro has selected nine energy projects through its 2024 call for power that the Province says will supply electricity to serve B.C. 's growing communities and housing needs.

That includes one in the Strathcona Regional District, about 40 km northwest of Campbell River.

A partnership with Wei Wai Kum First Nation, the Brewster Wind Farm will consist of up to six wind turbine generators with a combined capacity of approximately 40 megawatts and will generate enough power for approximately 33,000 homes.

“Clean and affordable electricity is key to powering economic growth and unlocking private-sector investment that creates thousands of good jobs here in British Columbia,” said Premier David Eby.

“These new projects will significantly expand our electricity supply – making B.C. a clean-energy superpower, while ensuring rates are affordable for people and for industries looking to expand.”

BC Hydro will be awarding 30-year electricity purchase agreements to the nine wind projects, which will provide nearly 5,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity, enough to power 500,000 new homes, boosting BC Hydro’s current supply by 8%.

The Province intends to exempt these wind projects and all future wind projects in B.C. from environmental assessment, “to ensure the projects are completed as efficiently as possible,” while ensuring First Nations interests and environmental mitigations are protected and maintained.

BC Hydro engaged with First Nations on the design of the call for power, and included a requirement that projects must have a minimum 25% equity ownership held by First Nations.

Eight of the nine successful energy projects will have 51% equity ownership. That represents $2.5 billion to $3 billion of ownership by First Nations in new renewable energy projects in the province.

The development and construction of the new clean-energy projects is expected to generate between $5 billion and $6 billion in private capital spending throughout the province.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.