Electricity produced by B.C’s clean energy sector is just as cheap as – if not cheaper than – BC Hydro’s, the Clean Energy Association of B.C. (CEBC) claims in a statement released Wednesday.
The statement was in response to the Review of BC Hydro panel report.
Paul Kariya, CEBC's executive director, said “While we appreciate and support the work of the BC Hydro Review panel, British Columbians need apples to apples comparisons when it comes to the price of clean energy, a critical commodity for our economy and quality of life.”
According to the panel report, clean energy producers contract with BC Hydro at a price of $124/MWh. However, the CEBC noted that the actual average price paid for electricity from clean energy producers over the past 20 years is $64/MWh, as noted by BC Hydro in the utility's 2010 Annual Report.
By locking clean energy producers into long-term contracts, the association says BC Hydro can hedge against market fluctuations and eliminate price uncertainty for ratepayers.
Graham Horn, vice-president of corporate affairs, western region, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. said “Clean electricity produced by Canadian companies like Innergex is good value. In fact, BC Hydro's purchases of clean energy accounted for only 2.6% of BC Hydro's originally proposed rate increase.”
According to the CEBC, to date, clean energy producers' have created 18,000 person-years of employment in B.C., often in First Nations and rural communities. The sector has contributed more than $2 billion to the provincial economy and $378 million to government revenue for public services.
Jennifer Harrison
Twitter: JHarrisonBIV