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Another chunk of Churchill
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The interior excavation for the massive Churchill Falls project in the 1960s.
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By MICHAEL PEAKE
Che-Mun
Quebec and Newfoundland have agreed to go ahead with a second phase of power developments on the infamous Churchill River in Labrador. The $12-billion hydroelectric project will be two-thirds owned by Newfoundland who has tried for years to overcome what it considers a bad contract negotiated with Quebec in the first Churchill Falls deal, signed in the 1960s.
Quebec insisted on a clause in the latest agreement saying nothing in the new deal is related to the old one.
The new power projects centre on an addition to the Churchill Falls generating station, a new generation facility downstream on Gull Island and a proposal to examine a site at Muskrat Falls for possible power generation.
The Gull Island station will generate 2,200 megawatts of power and Newfoundland will be guaranteed 1,000 MW for use in Labrador and an additional 800 MW transmission line it plans to build under the sea to Newfoundland. Quebec will get 1,200 MW of power for its domestic markets and sales to the U.S.
The estimated cost of this power generation will be 2.7c a kilowatt, which compares with the North American average cost of 6.3c a kilowatt.
Some people see getting more power out of an already dammed river making some sense. But many are worried about the fate of two undammed rivers that will be diverted to provide extra water for the new turbines. The upper Romaine and St-Jean rivers will be partially diverted into the Churchill system.
At Churchill Falls, two new generators will be built with that water, which will add a further 1,000 MW of power. If the feasibility study says Muskrat Island should be built, another 800 MW could be generated.
Estimates for job creation over the 10-year life of these projects include 17,000 direct jobs and 67,000 indirect jobs. The project must accommodate environmental and aboriginal concerns, a process expected to be lengthy, before work actually begins.
There is also a lot of worry about the continued mega-project mentality that H-Q is so famous for. Studies have shown that smaller power generation technologies (gas turbines) are as efficient, cheap and much less prone to the widespread collapse we saw in Quebec this last winter after the severe ice-storms crippled Quebec's electrical transmission network.
Newfoundland is trying to get Ottawa's help in financing the $2-billion cost of the undersea transmission line to the island. The province hopes to be able to use pollution credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a way of financing the $2-billion transmission line. While some of that power is earmarked for the Voisey's Bay smelter, that project is looking more and more likely to be delayed for some time due to economic and environmental pressures
Newfoundland estimates the switch to hydro power on the island from oil, coal and gas generated power could help Canada meet about 20% of its commitment under international treaties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The View from the Innu
Katie Rich, the president of the Innu Nation wrote an open letter to Newfoundland Premier Brian Tobin shortly after the announcement of the new Churchill generating facilities. In part, that letter stated;
"I say that the Innu have aboriginal title to the Churchill River and that any developments require our consent. I hasten to add as the Innu have repeatedly informed you, that we will not unreasonably withhold our consent to projects that are environmentally sound and that respect our land and our rights. That is why I repeatedly insisted that the Innu be included in the discussions from the outset. That is why I asked you to cancel the signing ceremony so that we could engage in appropriate negotiations.
Step 1: Compensation for Upper Churchill [Ed. Note - the original 1960s project]
"This must be addressed immediately.
Step 2: Agreement with Respect to Lower Churchill
"When Step 1 is completed, we propose to move to full discussion of your Lower Churchill proposal. By full discussion we mean from the beginning. Although it seems apparent from your announcement on March 9th that several agreements have already been reached, we are prepared to accept your word that nothing legal has been agreed to.
Step 3: Implementation of the Agreement with Respect to Lower Churchill
"In our view, Innu participation is a matter to be negotiated with your government in the context of an agreed upon project, and not with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Quebec Hydro (as you propose) based on project details that you have pre-determined with Quebec.
"What I am proposing is based upon the reality that the Innu have aboriginal title to the lands and river that you want to develop for the economic benefit of all the people of Newfoundland and Quebec. As I read it, the Supreme Court of Canada in its recent decision in the Delgamuukw case said that you must respect the aboriginal title of the Innu and that the Innu must respect your right to proceed with economic development for the benefit of all people of the province."
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