BC Hydro Annual Report 2001

R E D U C I N G G R E E N H O U S E G A S E M I S S I O N S
In an average run-off year, about 90 per cent of BC Hydro’s
electricity is generated from water, making us one of the lowest
greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting electric utilities in North America.
However, as more natural gas is added to our generation mix,
GHG emissions will increase. But we are serious about managing
our environmental impacts. Actions underway that support our
GHG management strategy include encouraging customers to
use energy wisely through Power Smart programs; ensuring
internal facilities operate efficiently through our Resource Smart
program; acquiring power from green resources; and investing in
GHG offsets. A GHG offset involves a project that compensates
M A K I N G I T S A F E
BC Hydro’s employee injury rate continues to be one of the
lowest in B.C. industry. Managing a high-risk commodity
such as electricity requires stringent safety protection practices,
and an equally strong commitment to maintaining them.
BC Hydro’s safety practices are among the best in the utility
industry today. To minimize risk to employees, and to improve
their overall safety, we continually review and enhance our
safety programs.
B C H Y D R O ’ S E M P L O Y E E I N J U R Y R A T E
C O N T I N U E S T O B E O N E O F T H E L O W E S T
I N B . C . I N D U S T R Y .
for emissions at one source by lowering, avoiding or capturing
and storing emissions at another source.
This year BC Hydro made a commitment to offset 50 per cent
of the increase in GHG emissions from two new natural gasfired
generation plants planned for Vancouver Island. Our first
offset project, announced in 2000, involves capturing methane
gas from the Port Mann landfill in Surrey, B.C., and delivering
the gas to a nearby wallboard plant to be used as fuel in the
plant’s burners. We continue to explore other opportunities to
meet our offset commitment.
Also, BC Hydro is committed to ensuring the safety of our
dams. This year we carried out seismic improvements on two
of our major hydroelectric generating facilities. The strengthening
of Stave Falls Dam, originally built in 1911, will be complete by
the end of 2001. As well, a new spillway channel was excavated
at Elsie Dam in the first phase of seismic improvements; by 2002
the dam will meet the latest in earthquake standards. Seismic
improvements will ensure downstream security for people and
the environment for years to come.