BC’s First Wind Cooperative sets high standard for wind in BC

DAWSON CREEK, BC – There was pride among the members of BC’s first renewable energy coop yesterday (August 6) when the first wind-generated electricity in the province finally began to flow.

“We’ve been working seven years for this,” said Steve Rison, president of Peace Energy Cooperative (PEC), a member-run, for-profit cooperative based in Dawson Creek. “We started the co-op to promote the development of renewable energy in the Peace region, to keep some of the benefits for our members and to be sure local values are respected. We are excited and proud to be a part of this important first for British Columbia, and I know our 378 members are thrilled.”

The 102-megawatt Bear Mountain Wind Park, 15 kilometres southwest of Dawson Creek, was jump started by Peace Energy Coop in 2002. The first of the 34, 3-megawatt turbines went on line yesterday, making BC history.

“It was the co-op’s vision from the beginning to retain the park-like values of Bear Mountain, and both Aeolis and AltaGas have been fantastic at working with the local community to be sure those values were retained,” explains co-op president Rison. “Bear Mountain Wind Park sets a very high standard for wind development in British Columbia.”

Bear Mountain Wind Park is owned and operated by AltaGas of Calgary, AB but PEC got the ball rolling by acquiring the crown land lease and working with Aeolis Wind Poweri Corp, based in Victoria, BC, to develop the site.

“Wind electrons are flowing into the BC Hydro grid for the first time!” said Juergen Puetter, president of Aeolis. “The BC Peace has an immense wind resource, and this is a big first step. We look forward to continuing to work with Peace Energy Cooperative and Peace communities to realize a clean renewable future for the province.”

Bear Mountain Wind Park is an eight kilometre long ridge development with 34 turbines in a single line facing the strong prevailing south west winds common in the Peace region.

Foundations and electrical connections were installed in 2008 when the concrete foundations were poured and set. In May of this year, blades and electronics began to arrive from Germany via the St Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. The 78 metre towers were manufactured in Saskatchewan.

“This is making history,” said Mike Bernier, Mayor of Dawson Creek. “There’s tremendous excitement in town because green energy fits so perfectly with our efforts to make Dawson Creek a truly sustainable community. It’s fantastic that this region is the first in the province to actually produce wind energy.”

The 378 member Peace Energy Cooperative was formed in 2002 to develop and invest in renewable energy for the benefit of its membership. The Bear Mountain site near Dawson Creek was the cooperative’s first major undertaking.