The December Major Projects Inventory released last week reported a record 957 major construction projects, with an estimated value of $198.7 billion, planned or under way across B.C. last quarter.
This includes 51 clean-technology projects, with an estimated value of $17.2 billion, such as the proposed $75 million Wildmare Wind Energy Project in Chetwynd and the $50 million PGP Bio Energy Project under construction in Prince George.
Major project inventory numbers are up more than 8% since December 2009 with 75 more projects planned or under way. The estimated value of these projects is up 6%, or $11.6 billion, over the same quarter last year.
The largest project to start construction was the $201 million Vancouver City Central Transmission Project.
In the Lower Mainland, 468 projects with an estimated capital cost of about $65.6 billion are under way.
The inventory also features 101 projects that are, or are aiming to be, certified under a recognized green building rating system such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or Green Globes.
Together, clean-technology and LEED projects represent 16% of the overall number of major projects planned or under construction in the province during the last quarter.
Pat Bell, minister of jobs, tourism and investment, said, “The record number and value of major projects shows that construction is having a positive economic impact all around the province despite some slowing of our economic recovery. It’s encouraging to see that $17 billion worth of clean energy projects are proposed throughout B.C., which demonstrates B.C.’s commitment to being a leader in the global low-carbon economy.”
Published quarterly, the Major Projects Inventory lists all major projects that are proposed, planned or under way in B.C. It includes projects with a capital cost of at least $20 million within the Lower Mainland and projects valued at $15 million or more in the rest of B.C.