Powell River councillors are being asked again to weigh in on a long-term hydro export proposal.
Powell River Energy wants to export 700,000 megawatt hours of power per year to the United States for 30 years.
The amount would power over 66,000 U.S. homes, based on the average consumption of 10,500 kilowatt hours for the average U.S. household. (Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration).
The power would come from the two dams – one at Lois Lake and the other at Powell Lake near the former Catalyst paper mill site.
Terms of the application to the Canada Energy Regulator have not been made public because it’s a business deal.
The company notes it’s been already exporting through a third party all the power from the two dams since the Catalyst mill closed in 2021.
The current application would allow Powell River Energy to export directly.
In a report to council for Thursday, CAO Sundance Topham says the city opposed a similar application three years ago and it was withdrawn.
“Locking in export capacity for such an extended period could impact and influence future development and industry,” Topham said.
Council will decide Thursday (Sept. 18) whether to take a stand on the application.
Interested parties in the application to the Canada Energy Regulator have until Sept. 25 to submit feedback.
