Following instructions from the provincial government, BC Hydro has streamlined the process for private hydro contractors to hook to the grid and sell power from small projects of less than 10 megawatts. The BC Liberals claim that this is to make us self-sufficient in electricity by 2016. No such plans are actually in place and BC Hydro will keep buying dirty coal and nuclear power, at night when it is cheap, from US and Alberta utilities.

Article by Scott Simpson from The Vancouver Sun

BC Hydro is proposing to slash red tape for small-scale entrepreneurs who want to participate in British Columbia's green energy bonanza.

Energy Minister Richard Neufeld announced on Wednesday in Prince George that Hydro is inviting proponents of the smallest independent power projects to join in the design of a "standing offer" program allowing them with minimal hassle to link to the grid whenever they're ready to sell electricity.

That means projects under a 10-megawatt threshold can get built on their own timetables rather than waiting for formal large-scale calls for power that are issued only about once a year.

A 10-megawatt small-hydro project typically provides 40 gigawatt hours per year of energy -- enough electricity to power 4,000 households.

Neufeld said the program, which will be worked out in consultation with proponents and subject to approval by the B.C. Utilities Commission, conforms with the provincial government's commitment to make B.C. energy self-sufficient by 2016.

Hydro is proposing to develop a standard contract for new small-power sources, paying the average price per megawatt as previously established in large-scale, formal calls for power.

Hydro proposes to design a contract that's easy to access, simple to understand, and governed by a straightforward administrative process.

The government heard in the last major Hydro call that a lot of small project proponents stayed out because they felt the bidding, the approval process and the paperwork were too onerous for small enterprises, Neufeld said in a telephone interview.

"So we said, why don't we make this easier and just base the price we'll pay on the average price from the previous call for power?"

Hydro has in recent years issued several calls to independent power producers for new sustainable sources of electricity, and awarded dozens of contracts based upon them. Hydro is planning at least two such calls later this year.

"We believe there needs to be a streamlined process for smaller-scale projects, and this standing offer program will enable those small electricity-generating projects to sell power to BC Hydro," said BC Hydro president and CEO Bob Elton in a press release.

Projects of less than 50 megawatts do not require an environmental approval certificate -- but Neufeld noted that proponents must still obtain consent from other regulatory agencies.

"If you are on a stream and there are fish you still have to deal with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, you still have to deal with B.C. ministry of environment -- and with land acquisition and that kind of thing if you are on crown land. All of those things are still in place."

B.C. Sustainable Energy Association president Guy Dauncey said he was disappointed by the contract terms Hydro is proposing because they're asking only for proven technologies such as run of river hydro, and because the minimum size for projects -- 50 kilovolts -- excludes participation by households with solar roofs that could otherwise contribute to the provincial grid.

By contrast, he suggested, proponents of projects that use thermal energy to create electricity -- such as burning natural gas, garbage, tires and biomass -- will have easy access to the grid.

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