Opposition to $6.9 Billion Dam Proposal in British Columbia

A proposal to dam the Peace River, flooding 5,500 hectares (or about 21 square miles), has met resistance from the legal and scientific communities in Canada.

1 minute read

June 12, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Peace River

The Peace River in British Columbia. | Steve Smith / Shutterstock

"The $8.8-billion [about $6.9 billion U.S. dollars] Site C dam has run into a wall of opposition from scientists and legal scholars," according to an article by Charlie Smith. So much so that more than 250 scientists and legal scholars signed a "statement of concern" in May regarding the regulatory review of the project.

Among the concerns listed in the statement: "this process did not accord with the commitments of both the provincial and federal governments to reconciliation with and legal obligations to First Nations, protection of the environment, and evidence-based decision-making with scientific integrity."

The argument in favor for the dam proposal is for creating a source of hydroelectric power capable of supplying 450,000 homes with a year's worth of electricity. The article includes more specific lodged by the statement of concern with regard to the review process for the proposed hydroelectric facility.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 in The Georgia Straight

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

SEPTA Station

SEPTA Budget Slashes Service by 45 Percent

The Philadelphia-area transit agency is legally tasked with maintaining a balanced budget. Officials hope the state will come to the rescue with additional funding.

1 hour ago - Philadelphia Inquirer

Connecticut state capitol with gold dome and modern office buildings in background in Hartford, CT.

Connecticut Governor Vetoes Housing Bill

Gov. Lamont reversed his view on a controversial affordable housing bill that would have required municipalities to zone for set amounts of affordable housing to receive state funding.

2 hours ago - Housing Wire

"Street Subway - LIRR - Amtrak - NJ Transit" with Exit sign in front of stairway on subway platform at Penn Station with silver train stopped at right.

NJ Transit Trains Delayed by Extreme Heat

Breakdowns in the subway network’s HVAC system caused dangerously high temperatures on platforms, while heat-induced track expansion forced trains to slow down.

3 hours ago - News 12 New Jersey

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.