VICTORIA — The British Columbia Utilities Commission has completed its review of the controversial Site C dam, concluding that delaying the megaproject would be the most risky and costly option.
The commission doesn't make a recommendation on whether the province should proceed with or cancel the dam, but it says terminating the project would cost $1.8 billion while completing it could cost more than $10 billion.
The province's fledgling NDP government asked the commission to examine the economic viability of the megaproject, which was a signature initiative of former Liberal premier Christy Clark.
The government has the final say on the fate of the project and Energy Minister Michelle Mungall is expected to respond to the report today.
The report says the project is not within the proposed budget of $8.3 billion and could end up costing 20 to 50 per cent more, while other energy sources including wind could provide similar benefits with lower costs.
The dam is two years into construction on the Peace River in northeast B.C. and work has continued while the review is underway.
