by Miriam Trevis
The Record
June 29, 2005
The bombshell announcement by BC Hydro on June 17 that it was cancelling its plans to build a power generation plant at Duke Point, took representatives of Green Island Energy by surprise, as much as everyone else.
Speaking on behalf of GIE, Bruce Clark told The Record that it will be some time before the full ramifications of Hydro's decision can be resolved. His sentiments were echoed by Mayor David Lewis who stated that "there are probably some raw nerves at Hydro round about now" and that it seems "a good time for GIE to keep a low profile and a closed mouth" to give time for the dust to settle.
There are several different scenarios now open, any one of which may be resolved over the next few weeks. The first is for BC Hydro to go back to square one and start the whole process over again. To some degree this process is already underway with its latest Call for Tender. Secondly, through political intervention by the provincial government, Hydro could be instructed to negotiate a contract through its PowerEx subsidiary to offset any electrical shortfall which the Island may experience over the next few years.
A third option would be for Hydro to re-examine the Call for Tender which awarded the contract to Duke Point in the first place. The legal implications of awarding a contract to one of the "runners up" in that Call would have to be studied. In the interim, the residents of Gold River together with Green Island Energy will continue with the never-ending waiting game.
Hydro CEO Bob Elton,
in his weekly newsletter to Hydro employees, indicated that he is "supportive
of the decision (i.e. cancelling Duke Point). It was without question
a difficult process getting there, but in the end it is the right outcome."
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