The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) have begun "exploratory discussions" on whether the two bodies can work together to create a shared independent power project (IPP).
At a special planning and development committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3, the SCRD asked staff to prepare a report on the implications and opportunities that could be created by a joint IPP.
The decision to explore a possible partnership came after a presentation from Shawn Thomas, SIB's hired expert on IPPs. Thomas' presentation focused on the challenges and opportunities posed by IPPs and what the Band's guiding principles are for them, including alignment with the Band's rights and title strategy, minimal environmental impacts and maximum economic benefits.
SIB Chief Garry Feschuk was on hand for the meeting and expressed a desire to partner with the SCRD.
"We're here today to see if there is an opportunity to look at a project. That's the main focus" he said. "I would like to see future meetings where we can get down to specifics."
SCRD directors eagerly took in Thomas' presentation and responded with questions and words of support for a possible partnership.
"I just think it makes sense to join up to deal with the issues that come to both parties all the time," said Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk. "Rather than fight it, why don't we work together and harness it and use it for our own purposes? It just makes perfect sense."
Janyk said partnering with the SCRD would bring advantages that the SIB and the private sector cannot bring alone including the SCRD's ability to borrow from the Municipal Finance Authority and potential for getting grant funding.
Directors were particularly intrigued by a portion of Thomas's presentation on an IPP partially owned by the District of West Vancouver. The Eagle Lake IPP "piggybacks" on the infrastructure the District had already installed for West Van's water supply. The District formed a public-private partnership with Pacific Cascade Hydro to install a turbine and powerhouse on top of the city's water reservoir. The result is revenue for the District and enough electricity to cover about 20 per cent of the total electricity used in the District's municipal operations.
"It's not a big project, but it's a great little pro-ject. It works like a charm and for all intents and purposes. The environmental impacts were really zero," Thomas said.
Directors at the table were curious to know if a similar project could be done on the SCRD's existing water treatment plan on Chapman Creek, though future discussions on IPPs are not limited to the creek.
In a later interview, SCRD board chair Donna Shugar emphasized that the SCRD is only just beginning to look at getting in the IPP business with no plans having been made. She stressed as well that protection of Chapman Creek would be paramount.
"The board is extremely committed to the protection of Chapman Creek," she said. "We have some infrastructure in the creek already with the water treatment facility and our water intake. If it can be done in such a way that it doesn't create any new impact and can provide some revenue for electricity, I would be very interested in that."
