BC Hydro’s Site C dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northern British Columbia has become fully operational ahead of schedule. The dam is now capable of generating 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power half a million homes per year. The sixth and final power-generating turbine came online, marking a significant milestone for the project. The first turbine started generating power in October 2024.
BC’s Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, Adrian Dix, stated that Site C is a crucial part of the province’s plan to increase clean energy production. The province aims to meet its economic and environmental goals, and Dix emphasized that Site C will provide reliable and affordable clean electricity for generations to come. The project has been controversial, with a final price tag of $16 billion, nearly double its initial estimate, making it the most expensive infrastructure project in BC’s history.
Construction of the dam began in 2015 under the previous BC Liberal government, and continued under the NDP government, despite initial opposition from local residents and environmentalists. The project’s continuation was announced by late NDP premier John Horgan in 2017, who decided that cancellation would have added billions of dollars to the provincial debt.
Dix acknowledged that Horgan was initially critical of the project, but ultimately decided to continue it in the public interest. The Minister noted that this decade will be crucial in the development of clean energy, and Site C is a key part of that effort. BC Hydro has also awarded nine wind energy projects and launched another call for power, focusing on clean or renewable energy sources.
The president and CEO of BC Hydro, Charlotte Mitha, stated that Site C will serve customers for the next 100 years and play a critical role in ensuring a stable and reliable electricity system. With Site C now fully operational, BC Hydro is poised to meet the province’s growing energy demands, while also contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. Dix emphasized that Site C will not be the last major energy project in the province, and more clean energy projects are underway to support the province’s economic and environmental goals.