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Another benefit of hydro: Site C construction brings $1 million to local projects

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Another benefit of hydro: Site C construction brings $1 million to local projects
(Site C hydro in British Columbia)

BC Hydro’s Generate Opportunities (GO) Fund has added $100,000 in funding available, bringing the total contribution to $1 million.

BC Hydro launched the GO Fund in 2016 to support Peace Region non-profit organizations as part of the Site C project construction.

The 1.1 GW Site C hydropower project, under construction on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia, is the largest and most expensive infrastructure project in the province’s history – with an estimated construction cost of $16 billion.

BC Hydro announced three new GO Fund recipients, bringing the number of projects funded to date to 100. The latest recipients are:

Fort St. John & District Palliative Care Society:  $7,500 to support making hospital beds available to palliative people with life threatening or altering illness.

Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society: $10,000 to help provide art therapy to families who have experienced violence.

Child Development Centre Society of Fort St. John and District: $10,000 to support services and supports for children with autism and their parents and caregivers.

The GO Fund is administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust.

“The BC Hydro GO Fund has supported so many valuable projects in the Peace Region that assist children, the elderly, families and those in vulnerable populations,” said Joel McKay, chief executive officer, Northern Development Initiative Trust. “Northern Development is proud to work with BC Hydro to provide funding to local non-profit organizations that deliver valuable programs and services for those who need it most.”

Applications for funding are accepted on an ongoing basis and funds are distributed quarterly.

Hydro Review reported in November 2023 that BC Hydro anticipated beginning filling of the Site C reservoir in 2024, after construction of the earthfill dam was completed in August 2023. Construction on Site C began in July 2015. When completed, it will