City of Powell River Council has approved a letter addressed to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) regarding Powell River Energy Inc.’s (PREI) initiative to not be classed as a public utility.
At the June 22 council meeting, councillors reviewed a draft letter under mayor Ron Woznow’s signature.
Councillor Trina Isakson said she was happy to see this letter.
“When I brought it up at the last council meeting, it was very clear that the timeline was quite short,” said Isakson. “Some concerns were raised about the legality of this and the complicated nature of this and I appreciate staff coming back to us and doing work to understand what BCUC is asking of us.”
She said the letter spoke to public interest and what the city’s interests are.
“What this letter will do is indicate to the BCUC how the dams at Lois Lake and Powell River might impact us as a city,” said Isakson. “This letter speaks to the history of the dam, how it has been used, and how it has been a vital source of supporting economic development in terms of an electrical source for the industrial site.
“We have yet to know what will be there in the future but we, as a city, think it is important for the future of the public and the economic development opportunities in the city, so I highly support the letter being sent to the BCUC.”
Council unanimously carried a motion to send the letter.
The letter stated: “The pulp mill in Powell River was a central part of the local economy for a very long time. The mill was established in 1912 as the first manufacturer of newsprint in Western Canada. By 1960, ownership of the mill had passed to MacMillan Bloedel. Ownership then passed to Pacifica Paper in 1998, and then to Norske Skog in 2001, becoming Catalyst Paper in 2005. The subsequent closure of the mill was a serious adverse event for the residents of Powell River.”
The power-generating facilities now owned by PREI are located on the mill site and were originally installed to supply power to the mill, the letter stated. While the power-generating facilities were used in that way, they provided an important benefit to the local community, supporting a mainstay of the local economy, and the employment and prosperity it brought, according to the letter.
The letter stated that the mill site remains a potentially valuable industrial site and the search for a new owner, and a new industrial base, is ongoing.
“This is a high priority for the city and ensuring the utility of the site for potential new operators is a matter of serious local importance,” the letter stated. “A local supply of electricity may be critical in restoring the mill site to productive use.”
The power-generating operation of PREI exploits and relies upon land and water that are local natural resources, and which should be managed and preserved for the benefit of its local residents, according to the letter.
There is a June 30 deadline for submission of the letter to the BCUC.
