South Peace Historical Society

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  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

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BN17-29: Stiff Competition for Bear Mountain Power Lease

Recent Items – 2003

December 11, 2003, By Gary Rusak, Daily News Staff

Peace Energy is facing some stiff competition for the lease on Bear Mountain that the energy co-op is hoping to secure to start up its innovative wind park.

“We were initially told that we couldn’t write a letter of intent without being incorporated,” said Greg Dueck, a director of the co-op. “So, this other company got their letter of intent in before us.”

The other company is the Oregon-based PPM Energy, a division of the

international firm ScottishPower. The lease is so highly sought after

due to a B.C. Hydro study that put Bear Mountain on the top of a list

of potential sites for wind energy production. Land and Water British

Columbia, a provincial office based in Fort St. John, issues the

leases.

“We feel the timing of the letter of intent should not be a determining factor in awarding the lease,” said Dueck. “As a regional organization that was widespread support in the Peace region, we are more capable of taking care of this lease than an outsider.”

David Kidd, Peace Energy’s interim manager detailed the reasons why the lease should fall into local hands.

“We live here and work here,” said Kidd. “We believe in the Peace and want to make sure that our abundance of renewable energy will be put to use for our and our children’s benefit.”

The co-op has been on pins and needles over the last few weeks awaiting the government’s decision. Dueck is finding the process for securing the lease a little bureaucratic in nature.

“It’s tough to find out who to talk to,” he said. “I don’t think they

planned on this happening.”

The guidelines for issuing the leases are set to change in March. The co-op is hoping that the government will at least hold off a decision until the new guidelines are announced. As it is the office says that a decision could come by the end of December. The co-op is optimistic that a solution can be worked out. Dueck added that he has contacted South Peace MLA Blair Lekstrom about the issue and is hoping that he can help the co-op. But, Dueck was quick to point out that the co-op will continue with or without the lease.

“We have a lot of options available,” said Dueck. “We can look at partnering with the bigger company or look at different places in farmer’s fields here or in Alberta.”

The co-op is also pursuing other projects including geothermal heating, solar electricity bio fuels and small-scale “off-grid” wind power.

This article is taken from the Peace River Block Daily News, Dawson Creek, with the permission of the publisher. The Daily News retains all rights relating to this material. The information in this article is intended solely for research or general interest purposes.

« BN17-28: Energy Exploration Could Unearth Massive Dinosaur Footprint Find

BN17-30: Swan Lake Enhancement Funds Requested »

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