by Miriam Trevis
The Record
Aug. 30, 2006
After many years of waiting, several false alarms and an agonizing disappointment in 2004, the news that Gold River has been waiting for finally came on August 27 when BC Hydro announced that it was awarding a 30-year contract to Green Island Energy.
The contract will allow GIE to generate power utilizing the boilers in the steam plant to the former mill site. Fuel for these boilers will be primarily construction waste with a back-up of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). The contract still has to be approved by the BC Utilities Commission.
In August 2003, Bowater Inc. sold the mill site to Muchalat Industries, the parent company of Green Island Energy. From the outset, GIE stated that its intention was to use the facility for an environmentally friendly power generation project.
In compliance with all the requirements laid down by BC Hydro, GIE participated in the Call for Tender in 2004 and until the last moment, all indications were that its proposal would be accepted by BC Hydro. However, in November 2004 the announcement was made that BC Hydro was awarding the contract to Pristine Power and its Duke Point project. This decision was later rescinded by BC Hydro.
At a press conference held in Gold River on July 28, Bev Van Ruyven, Vice President of BC Hydro expressed her pleasure that she was finally able to come to Gold River with good news. Sean Ebnet, Vice President of GIE, stated that the announcement will be "of great benefit to all local businesses.'
Construction will
not be starting until next year with a schedule currently being prepared
by Green Island Energy which will be published in The Record when it becomes
available.
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