The BC Utilities Commission has approved ten new energy purchase agreements between BC Hydro and independent producers as part of the utility’s 2024 call for clean or renewable electricity.
The approved projects include nine wind facilities and one solar installation, which together will provide about 4,830 gigawatt hours of power annually—starting in BC Hydro’s 2031 fiscal year.
Each agreement runs for 30 years, with an average price of $74 per megawatt hour. These projects are designed to help meet BC’s growing energy demands and advance the province’s goal of 100% clean electricity.
Importantly, all projects include equity partnerships with First Nations, with Indigenous ownership ranging from 49 to 51 percent. The Commission found BC Hydro’s procurement process to be fair, competitive, and consistent with its long-term energy plans.
The BCUC also confirmed that First Nations potentially impacted by the agreements were adequately consulted.
These new projects are expected to boost local economies, create jobs, and support energy self-sufficiency, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities.
BC Hydro launched the call for power earlier this year following projections that the province will face an energy shortfall as early as 2029.
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