Washington, D.C.: Although Canadians may not be aware that much is going on, the international hydroelectric industry is impressed with the speed and volume of waterpower development in this country. Long time industry journal Hydro Review published a special feature in October focusing on “Canada’s Building Boom.” It said, “Canada is taking the necessary steps to secure a clean, renewable future based heavily on hydropower. Through new development, regeneration and rehabilitation, Canadian hydropower is expanding its influence in the power generation industry.”
Written by Associate Editor Bethany Duarte, the special feature suggests that Canada is the darling of the hydroelectric developers the world over: “Hydropower is thriving in Canada, and work is under way to increase its stronghold in this nation that gets 50% of its electricity from hydro facilities. In fact, during his keynote address at HydroVision International 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky, Canadian Hydropower Association President Jacob Irving commented that “’even as the world’s third largest hydropower generator, [Canada] could still realistically more than double [its] existing capacity.’ ”
The article cites several examples of major hydroelectric projects currently under way: the Eastman-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert project on the Rupert River in Northern Quebec (918 MW), the Lower Churchill and Muskrat Falls in Labrador, the Niagara Tunnel, Lower Mattagami and various rehabilitations in Ontario, the 2730 MW Gordon M. Shrum project in British Columbia, and the 695 MW Keeyask station in Manitoba. Nova Scotia earned special mention for its work on commercializing tidal power and for its plans to build a transmission line from Labrador designed to support a power purchase agreement related to Muskrat Falls.
Crediting Bill 38, the federal budget implementation bill, with streamlining the approval process, the article says, “Hydropower is the single largest generation source in Canada, with tremendous potential for increase. A current snapshot of the hydro industry reveals that developers and utilities are working to do just that. New projects are in development country-wide, utilizing new turbine and generator technologies, untapped potential sites and innovative designs to increase both capacity and efficiency.”
It appears that Canadians are barely aware of what a positive impression they are creating outside their borders.