A state-of-the-art gas thermal power plant in Campbell River sits idle 90 per cent of the time, but — under a contract that runs until April 2022 — BC Hydro is paying about $55-million a year to ensure emergency power is available if needed, DeSmog Canada has learned.
The Island Generation plant, with a 275-megawatt capability, meaning it is capable of powering about one-third of Vancouver Island homes, is owned by Capital Power Corp., and is fired up only for peak power demands or when there are problems with subsea cables from the mainland that usually power Vancouver Island.
The company only incurs minor expenses as there is a skeleton crew of about 14 people and few maintenance problems, meaning it is similar to being paid for parking a vehicle in a garage, said a former employee.
“All the money they are getting for not running the plant is free,” said Kerry McRae, former construction superintendent for the plant who is questioning why BC Hydro is forging ahead with plans to spend $9-billion on the Site C dam when it is not using power from existing facilities.