Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. (CHD) has received all necessary permits and approvals to begin construction of the 20-MW Bone Creek and 9.9-MW Clemina Creek hydroelectric projects in British Columbia’s Thompson River Valley.
CHD Chief Executive John Keating said Aug. 14 the developer is gearing up to start construction by late summer on the C$46 million (US$43.4 million) Bone Creek and C$22 million (US$20.7 million) Clemina Creek.
Bone Creek, Clemina Creek, and two other B.C. projects, 5-MW English Creek and 9.6-MW Serpentine Creek, all won power sales contracts in 2006 in response to a call for power by BC Hydro. (HNN 7/28/06) Bone Creek has a 20-year contract, while the other three have 40-year contracts.
�The company anticipates obtaining all necessary approvals and permits for the Serpentine and English hydroelectric projects this upcoming winter and spring, respectively,� CHD said. �Construction will commence thereafter.�
Bone Creek, Clemina Creek, and the C$22 million (US$20.7 million) Serpentine Creek are grouped in the Thompson Valley between Blue River and Valemount. They are to generate an estimated 150,000 MWh per year. The C$10 million (US$9.4 million) English Creek is near Revelstoke and close to CHD’s 45-MW Pingston and 10-MW Akolkolex projects. It is to generate 20,000 MWh per year. All four projects are expected to be complete in 2009.
CHD said it is completing supplemental information requests in the regulatory review of its 100-MW Dunvegan hydroelectric project on the Peace River in Alberta. (HNN 1/3/07) Once those are complete, CHD said it expects the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and the Natural Resources Conservation Board to set a hearing for approval of Dunvegan’s design and construction.
The company expects the hearing and regulatory approval of Dunvegan’s construction and operation early in 2008. It said long-term power sales contracts and financing also are required prior to proceeding. CHD previously said it planned project commissioning in late 2011.
The site for the proposed run-of-river project is two kilometers upstream of Dunvegan Bridge. CHD estimates capital costs of more than C$300 million (US$256 million). The project would feature 40 turbines, each rated at 2.5 MW.
In June, Ontario Power Authority agreed to purchase electricity generated at CHD’s 3.2-MW Misema project. (HNN 6/28/07) The 20-year standard offer contract calls for CHD to receive C$145 (US$136) per megawatt-hour during on-peak hours, when customers use more electricity, and C$110 (US$104) per MWh during off-peak hours.
The Misema plant is 10 kilometers north of Englehart, on the south side of the Misema River at Eighty-foot Falls. The plant began operating in 2003; Canadian Hydro bought the project from Canadian Renewable Energy Corp. in 2005.
