Where We Are Today: Stage 2

Site C today: a new approach

Multi-stage evaluation and consultation process

The BC Energy Plan called for BC Hydro and the provincial government to "enter into initial discussions with First Nations, the Province of Alberta and communities to discuss Site C to ensure that communications regarding the potential project and the processes being followed are well known."

No decision has been made to build Site C. However, large projects like Site C have a long lead time, and require early evaluation and study. To preserve Site C as an option for the future, significant work needs to take place now to understand the project's impacts and benefits from a technical, financial and environmental perspective. For that reason, there are a number of studies and comprehensive consultation planned today to update the project.

BC Hydro is taking a stage-by-stage approach to the evaluation of Site C as a potential resource option for meeting B.C.'s future electricity needs. At the end of each stage of review, BC Hydro will make a recommendation to government for a decision on whether to proceed to the next stage of project planning and development. BC Hydro is currently in Stage 2, Project Definition and Consultation.

Two rounds of public consultation on the potential project are planned in Stage 2, in addition to Pre-Consultation, which concluded in February 2008. Project Definition Consultation, Round 1 was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2008 and consulted local, regional and provincial stakeholders on key impacts, benefits and features of the potential Site C Project. The consultation sought feedback on elements of project design, recreation, infrastructure, local impacts, land uses and community benefits.

Project Definition Consultation, Round 2 takes place October 1 to November 30, 2008 and builds on stakeholder input from Project Definition Consultation, Round 1 and Pre-Consultation.

In addition, Stage 2 involves extensive engineering, environmental and technical work to further define the project, to update decades-old studies, and to conduct new studies and technical work.

At the end of Stage 2, the provincial government will be in a better position to decide if Site C should continue to be pursued as an option.

Learn more about Stage 2 engineering and technical work, environmental and socio-economic work.