19 DEC 2024 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA BC Hydro’s Site C project has reached a critical milestone with the first generating unit now officially in service, marking the start of power production from the massive $16 billion hydroelectric endeavor on the Peace River in northeast BC. Set for full completion by fall 2025, Site C will ultimately provide 1,100 megawatts of firm capacity, generating around 5,100 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually— enough to power approximately 450,000 homes. This contribution is a substantial boost to BC’s clean energy supply, aligning with BC Hydro’s strategic goal of addressing a projected 15 per cent rise in electricity demand by 2030. The project has achieved nearly 90 per cent completion, with reservoir filling finished and five additional generating units slated to come online by fall 2025. BC Hydro has invested extensively in environmental mitigation, creating fish habitats and wetlands while compensating for agricultural land impacts through the $20 million Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund. “Our electricity grid is already one of the cleanest in the world, and to meet the scale and pace of what’s required, we need to invest in our system and build for the future,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “We have already taken significant steps toward sourcing the clean electricity needed to meet the future demand, and we are now embarking on the
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