Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Independent and powerful

Six micro-hydro projects would brighten future for Douglas First Nation

Chief Darryl Peters doesn’t want to say how much money will pour into his community if B.C. Hydro approves six independent power projects for his people’s waterways next month. But if the run-of-river projects on Douglas (Xa’xtsa) reserve and traditional territory are approved Peters says it will mean major changes for the 80-some community members at the north end of Harrison Lake in the Lower Lillooet valley.

"We won’t have to rely on Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) anymore," Peters said in a July 14 interview, but added that some INAC programs will remain in place.

Douglas First Nation will enter into a 40-year sub-lease of some of its reserve with Vancouver-based Cloudworks Energy if B.C. Hydro gives the go ahead to the developer’s application proposal for six run-of-river projects.

B.C. Hydro issued a province-wide call last fall for independent power project (IPP) submissions and received 53 proposals from 37 potential IPP producers. The corporation based awarding of contracts on affordability, reliability, cleanliness, and depth of community consultation. Once approved the Crown corporation will buy power from the IPP producers at a yet-to-be-determined rate per megawatt.

Three years ago B.C. Hydro paid $54/megawatt to independent power producers after an open call for applications. (One megawatt lights up 1,000 homes.) But the senior vice-president of customer care said the price is likely to be higher this time around.

"Construction costs have gone up significantly, as well as the cost of steel commodities that go into these projects because of a booming economy, so we will have to be paying more than $54," said Bev Van Ruyven.

An announcement regarding the successful proposals is expected Aug. 4.

Cloudworks, who managed the Rutherford and Miller Creek IPP construction in Pemberton, have worked with Douglas community for seven years on the proposed $420 million projects. Slated for Douglas, Fire, Stokke, Tipella, Upper Stave and Lamont creeks, the projects include powerhouses and a substation that will connect to existing hydro lines and bring a reliable source of electricity to the community’s two villages, Tipella and Port Douglas. Despite being within a hundred metres of B.C. Hydro transmission lines, the isolated communities have been dependent on unreliable diesel-generated power for years.

Douglas First Nation wants to go ahead with six independent power projects in their territory. Tipella Creek is one of the potential sites. Photo by Michael Potyok

In addition to reliable energy, construction of the projects, which could start spring of 2007, will mean steady employment for community members. Marine engineer and Cloudworks founder David Andrews said the projects need up to 200 workers and the firm will hire as many community members as possible.

"There’s going to be quite a lot of work for them," Andrews said, adding that Cloudworks will also offer employment to two other In-SHUCK-ch communities in the valley, Skatin (Skookumchuk) and Baptiste-Smith (Samahquam).

Peters said there aren’t enough community members living on reserve to fulfill construction needs and has negotiated with Cloudworks to allow off-reserve members to come on board.

"Whether it’s falling trees, building foundations, welding, or whatever skill assets we have then those are the areas of employment that will be brought up for us," Peters said.

In addition to employment, the independent power projects, which B.C. Hydro says must be up and running by late 2009, will bring other economic and social spin-offs to the community. Part of Lower Lillooet River valley’s In-SHUCK-ch Nation, Douglas’ villages and two other communities live without paved roads, telephone service or hydro. Recently Internet service was brought into the community via satellite, but Peters pointed out the service is reliant on electricity and at time of interview the Douglas community was without power due to diesel-generator failure.

Peters said his community has been in a catch-22 housing situation that could be alleviated if reliable power came to the villages. Unable to provide enough housing for its members, many moved years ago to the Fraser Valley. New housing initiatives have always been stalled because of lack of hydro infrastructure, but reliable power would be the first step in re-building the community and enticing members home.

Independent power projects have come under fire recently from critics concerned about protecting B.C.’s water reserves. An IPP proposed by the Squamish Nation and Vancouver developer Ledcor for Ashlu Creek has generated considerable controversy. Squamish-Lillooet Regional District rejected the project and then was outraged when the provincial government pushed through Bill 30, a piece of legislation that took away the district’s power to veto energy projects on Crown land within district boundaries.

While Cloudworks and Douglas have not faced that kind of opposition, Peters admits elders in his community have questioned the project’s consequences.

"Some members of our nation will turn around and say we’ve sold the farm, saying we’ve lost our rights and title," he said, "but I believe, and I’ve had advisors help me along with this, that we’ve utilized our title and rights."

Peters said he has taken a go-slow approach to negotiating a partnership with Cloudworks that included extensive consultation with the Douglas community.

"We’ve had the opportunity to bring elders together and explained in many different ways, and brought people in to explain, what’s going to happen," Peters said. "We’ve had legal counsel, financial advisors, developers and consultants involved in community meetings."

He said he understands concerns but also feels an urgency to move his community away from what he describes as third-world country living conditions.

"We’re evolving on a regular basis and I’d rather we try and keep up. I like to think of myself as trying to work within today’s society because there is always going to be change."