Natural Resources
Environment and Conservation
October 21, 2009
Environmental Benefits of
Large-Scale Hydro Focus of Forum
Newfoundland and Labrador today hosted the Council of
the Federation Forum on Large-Scale Hydroelectric
Development: Aligning Economic and Environmental Goals
as a means to meet the country�s future energy demand
and environmental goals.
�Large-scale hydro is an important clean energy solution
for the future, and Newfoundland and Labrador is ideally
positioned as a key supplier of this renewable energy,�
said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of
Natural Resources and co-chair of the forum. �Our
province has a strategy to use our non-renewable
resource revenues to fuel a future based on renewable
resources. We already supply hydroelectricity to eastern
Canada and the northeastern United States through the
Upper Churchill development and are moving forward to
develop the Lower Churchill project, which will
contribute significantly to environmentally-sustainable
energy demands. The forum today enabled us to examine
how these large-scale hydro developments can help us
achieve our environmental priorities and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.�
At the 2008 Council of the Federation summer meeting,
Premiers identified the need to make the advancement of
green technologies a priority in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. The large-scale hydro forum was one in a
series of forums the Premiers committed to holding at
that time. Forums have already been held on energy
efficiency, by Nova Scotia, and bioenergy, by British
Columbia. The forum was co-chaired by the Honourable
Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and
Conservation.
�Our government is striving to be environmental stewards
as we deal with the impacts of climate change,� said
Minister Johnson. �Sustainable resource development is
one way we can reduce our carbon footprint for future
generations. The meaningful discussions that have taken
place at this forum speak to the importance of finding
the appropriate balance between economic development and
environmental integrity, and we must ensure that the
environment is at the forefront in our decision making
around such projects.�
The forum was designed to take a focused look at
large-scale hydro in the context of addressing climate
change, and how to advance development in a consultative
and balanced manner. Delegates spent the day immersed in
discussion on the challenges and opportunities
associated with large-scale hydro, and how to approach
the economics of protecting the environment and the
implications for the generation, distribution and
consumption of electricity.
Speakers included those from government, public and
private sector developers, non-governmental
organizations, industry associations and an expert on
aboriginal consultation. The discussions focused on the
economic and environmental fundamentals of large-scale
hydroelectric development, the role large-scale hydro
can play in achieving emission reductions and best
practices to ensure effective environmental assessment
and aboriginal consultation.
Canadians have been developing hydroelectricity since
the late 1800s and it now accounts for nearly 60 per
cent of the country�s electricity supply. Canada has
over 450 hydropower facilities in all but one province
and one territory. Jacob Irving, President of the
Canadian Hydropower Association, told the forum that
Canada has 70,000 megawatts of installed capacity with
the potential to add 163,000 megawatts more. �That�s
more than double,� said Mr. Irving. �Right now in
Canada, over 12,000 megawatts of projects are in various
planning stages. This represents $50 billion of economic
development over the next 10 years for our country.�
Newfoundland and Labrador�s Lower Churchill Project is
the most attractive undeveloped hydroelectric
development in North America. The project is currently
moving through the environmental assessment process. Its
two installations at Gull Island and Muskrat Falls have
a combined capacity of over 3,000 megawatts of clean
energy. The Churchill Falls Generating Station located
in Labrador is one of the largest underground power
houses in the world with a rated capacity of 5,428
megawatts.
The Council of the Federation was created in December
2003 and comprises all 13 provincial and territorial
Premiers. It enables Premiers to work collaboratively to
strengthen the Canadian federation by fostering a
constructive relationship among the provinces and
territories and with the Federal Government.
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Media contacts:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca |
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca |
2009 10 21
3:30 p.m.