VICTORIA - The British Columbia government has approved an environmental assessment certificate for the massive $8-billion Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River.
Environment Minister Mary Polak and Forests and Lands Minister Steven Thomson issued a joint statement saying that Site C is in the public interest and the benefits outweigh the risks.
The release says the province has to decide to proceed with the project based on an investment decision.
The federal government still needs to issue a environmental certificate and the final decision would have to be made by the B.C. government by November.
A joint panel review report released in May concluded that replacing a portion of the Peace River with an 83-kilometre long reservoir would cause significant adverse effects on fish, their habitat, and a number of other species, plants and sensitive eco systems.
However, the report also said that the province will need new energy and new capacity at some point and the dam would provide a large amount of inexpensive power, low in greenhouse gas emissions.
