Good press or bad press? part 19

Bala Falls Hydro Project has had lots of press lately. Toronto media has actually covered the story. Not necessarily accurately, but local press (CottageCountryNews) shows that quantity might be as good as quality.

They say that any press is good press. I have an post from Swift River Energy Ltd (SREL)  that proves this is not so. Two articles, reflecting bias on the part of the journalists, have clearly covered this story with a eye towards supporting the vocal lobby group formed to prevent the rebuilding of the existing dam. It's been quite a saga.

This is the e-mail that SREL and Karen McGhee has had to send out to clarify the situation.

It has come to my attention that the Muskoka Today paper printed a very misleading article last week regarding our North Bala Dam Waterpower project with respect to the Green Energy Act.  I have sent a letter to the editor of Muskoka Today to have this issue corrected.  SREL is confident that the paper will correct this misunderstanding in its next edition.

While it is true waterpower is not required to get a "Renewable Energy Approval" (a new approval process developed under the Green Energy Act), and the North Bala Dam Waterpower Project is proceeding under Regulation 116/01 under the Environmental Assessment Act - waterpower IS defined as renewable energy and is covered under the Green Energy Act.  The difference in the approval structure is simply because waterpower, a very mature technology, already had an appropriate approvals process in place before the Green Energy Act, while the other forms of renewable energy (such as solar and wind) did not.  The changes implemented under the Green Energy Act with respect to the Municipal Planning Act and the Feed-In Tariff Contracts, however, ARE still applicable to waterpower in general, and our project in particular.

I should also take this time to clarify that the opinion by some of the members of the community that the MNR's Crown Land site release program was put on hold because of this project is also incorrect.  The site release program is current undergoing modifications (as it has several times since its initial launch) to ensure that it is consistent with the new regulatory and commercial conditions and timeframes introduced through the Green Energy Act last year.  SREL does not expect any changes in the MNR site release program to be retroactive or applied to this project, as this has not been the case in previous iterations of the program.

If you would like to discuss these matters further, please do not hesitate to contact me at the number below. 

 Regards,

Swift River Energy Limited (SREL)

Karen McGhee, P.Eng., Bala Project Manager,  905-331-9692

www.balafalls.ca

Swift River Energy Limited (SREL) is a 100% Canadian owned company with a mission to develop small, low-impact, run-of-river waterpower generating facilities.  SREL is currently in the final stages of the Environmental Screening process for the construction of a 4-5 MW run-of-river waterpower facility at the Ministry of Natural Resource’s (MNR) existing North Bala Dam.  This was one of the first sites MNR released as part of its competitive site release program in 2005.   The Bala Falls project exemplifies Muskoka’s commitment to conservation and renewable power.  By producing power locally, the need for new large transmission line projects in the area is reduced.  The project will generate in excess of 5,000 person days of labour during the construction period.  A large percentage of the estimated $14.5 million total construction costs is expected to be spent locally.  SREL are planning on burying the powerhouse and professionally landscaping on top to create a public park / sunset lookout complete with interpretive signage describing the heritage of the area and its roots in renewable energy.  By developing this project, SREL will help Ontario realize its goals under the Green Energy Act of: expanding Ontario’s use of clean and renewable sources of energy; creating 50,000 “green collar” jobs over the next 3 years; and protecting the environment by offsetting coal generation and its related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the fight against climate change.