B.C. 'seriously' considering new hydro dam on the Peace River near Alberta: minister

B.C. 'seriously' considering new hydro dam on the Peace River near Alberta: minister

Known as the Site E Dam, project would be at confluence of Peace and Alces rivers

The British Columbia government is looking to dust off plans for another multibillion-dollar dam on the Peace River, after the Site C project generated opposition and cost overruns.

Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the province is "seriously" re-examining the plan for what's known as the Site E Dam at the confluence of the Peace and Alces rivers to meet the growing demand for electricity.

The Site E Dam was originally proposed in 1958, along with four other Peace River sites, including the recently completed Site C project, which is now known as the John Horgan Dam.

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Dix says the government is also looking at the technical details of building a large hydroelectricity project at the head of Bute Inlet, northeast of Powell River.

He says this isn’t an announcement that the projects will go ahead, and instead technical work will determine whether the two projects can or should proceed.

The minister says other renewable projects, including geothermal power, are also being considered.