BC Hydro’s dam on the Peace River will cost not only billions of dollars but also kilometers of fertile land used by First Nations to hunt and trap
BC Hydro’s $7.9 Billion dollar hydropower project has encountered much opposition financially and environmentally. Although the project has received environmental approval from both federal and provincial governments, many First Nations have voiced concern over the flooding of aboriginal land, which would affect their ability to hunt, trap and fish. Other opponents also voiced concerns over the financial viability of the project, claiming that the upfront costs are unjustified given the unknown growth in demand for electricity, and that smaller scale hydroelectric plants developed by would have lower overall costs. BC Hydro and the crown government it represents has downplayed these concerns, while First Nations groups have vowed to challenge the project in the Supreme Court.
The government, represented by the provincial crown corporation of BC Hydro, must understand understand how it can create shared value, and that the need for electrical capacity does not necessarily have to come in conflict with environmental and First Nation interests. This is especially important for BC Hydro, as it represents a government that has to act in the interests of all its citizens, including First Nations. The government needs to realize that building the dam could create externalities that outweigh the benefits of the dam. For example, damaging the livelihoods of the First Nations could increase their reliance on social aid, increasing costs for the government. By downplaying issues for the First Nations, the government is making huge PR mistake given that Premier Clark is trying to advocate for cooperation instead of litigation. Only by looking at the benefits and costs with a broader perspective that incorporates the interests of all citizens will the government realize that alternatives, such as geothermal and small scale hydropower, create much greater shared value.
References
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/First+Nation+chiefs+stage+Site+showdown/10215965/story.html