Construction Economist Journal - Fall 2020

Page 24

Project profile:

Site C Clean Energy project T

hroughout the last few years, talk of Canada’s recent, current, and future mega projects has typically included one of the many public transit projects, LNG Canada, the Trans Mountain Pipeline, or just about anything in Toronto. There are many more however, including at least three large hydroelectric dams from coast to coast worth roughly a combined $31 billion. Muskrat Falls in Labrador, Keeyask in northern

Manitoba, and the Site C project in northeastern British Columbia. These major public infrastructure projects are never without scrutiny, especially when there are significant impacts to natural resources. Hydroelectric dams can be amongst the most difficult to move forward and BC Hydro’s Site C is no exception. With many of the major hurdles aside, it is moving ahead and is certainly one to include on our country’s list of massive undertakings. That said, outside BC

24 | CONSTRUCTION ECONOMIST | www.ciqs.org | Fall 2020

news of the project is not abundant, yet its background is amongst the most interesting and the budget is up there with the best of Canada’s mega-projects. The history of the project dates back to the 1950s when investigation for potential sites was underway for three dams along the Peace River. For this dam in particular, five sites were identified (A, B, C, D and E). Site C was determined to be the most suitable in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s the project was pitched and ultimately shelved. Shortly after To return to Table of Contents CLICK HERE


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