Rapids on N.W.T. border is the site of proposed $5-billion hydroelectric development
Derrill Shuttleworth and his father Dale recently painted the rapids of the Slave River on the Alberta-N. W.T. border, the site of a proposed hydroelectric project.
It took 70-year-old Dale Shuttleworth nearly three days to drive his truck camper up to the remarkable rapids of the Slave River in the fall of 2008, a trek few Albertans will make.
But thanks to Dale and his son, Derrill, people can now get acquainted with the rapids from here.
The pair spent several days photographing, sketching and painting the rapids to bring attention to their beauty while proponents of a $5-billion hydroelectric project contemplate their demise. Continue Reading…
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Francois Paulette, an elder from Smith Landing, wants the proponents of the hyrdo electric project to come see what they want to destroy. Photograph by: Darcy Henton, Edmonton Journal
Canadian Utilities Ltd. president Nancy Southern has a dream to one day wean Alberta off the two coal-fired plants her company’s Atco subsidiary owns in eastern Alberta. She wants to replace that “dirty” energy with green power from hydroelectric facilities on the Slave River and other northern rivers.
The plan has supporters among politicians and environmentalists who see global warming as the biggest threat to the world. The proposed run-of-river project on the Slave, 800 kilometres northeast of Edmonton on the Alberta-NWT boundary, would not cause the wide-scale flooding that a major dam and reservoir would create.
Atco believes the$5-billion project, which is at least a decade down the road, could provide between 1,000 and 1,500 megawatts of electricity. But more importantly, it would cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 50 per cent.
“I think this is potentially a win-win for energy generation,” says Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann. “If it’s done well, First Nations could share the benefits of it and have some stake in it economically and not feel compromised in terms of the environment.”
Swann says it is too early to give the project unqualified support since the scale, impacts and exact location of the project have not been determined. But he says he thinks it could be a great development, depending on the environmental impacts and the opportunities for First Nations involvement. “We know pretty well what the positives are, but what are the negative impacts and can we balance those off?”
Cecily Dobson, a spokeswoman for Atco’s project partner, TransCanada, says the companies are working with the local communities to assess the generation alternatives, including studying various designs, locations and sizes for the proposed project. She said a series of feasibility studies will be launched this fall to determine if the project can be developed in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner.
“We expect it to take about a year to complete the first phase of studies,” she said. “Throughout this stage, we’ll be engaging with the communities to share the findings of our studies and will work with them to evaluate the information and determine the next steps.”
The project has so far received a mixed reaction in Fort Smith, NWT, the community of 2,500 just north of the spectacular rapids that will be the likely source of generation. Mayor Peter Martselos says the project could benefit the community immensely, but the environmental impacts will have to be balanced against the economic benefits. He says it could be several years before the feasibility studies are complete and residents will have to decide if they support or oppose it.
“I believe the feasibility study will answer some of the concerns of the people. At the end of the day, the people will decide what is the right thing for Fort Smith and the aboriginal people will have to be part of that decision.”
Martselos, who came to Canada from Greece 42 years ago, is sensitive to First Nations issues. He is married to the chief of the Salt River First Nation.
One of the biggest concerns many locals have about the project is the impact it will have on the Pelican Rapids, home of North America’s most northerly flock of pelicans, and several other sets of rapids adjacent to the town. “It’s a beautiful community,” Martselos says. “But you can’t eat beauty. We’re all concerned about the environment. There’s no question about it. But we need some jobs.”
Martselos hopes the environmental concerns can be mitigated and the project will proceed because Fort Smith needs local opportunities for its young people.
The project will face stiff opposition from some in the aboriginal community. Metis Council president Betty Villebrun says her people are concerned about flooding and the impact on fish and wildlife. But she says the Metis have been virtually ignored so far by the project proponents.
“We just had a meet and greet,” she says. “I don’t know why they haven’t consulted with us on anything.”
Smith Landing elder Francois Paulette, a former chief whose struggle for his people’s land claim is the subject of a documentary film, may be the biggest obstacle in the path of the project. Paulette is opposed to any plan that will hurt the river. He says Southern, who is currently out of the country, should take a ride on the river with him to see what is at stake if she forges ahead with her green plan.
“She needs to come up here,” he says. “She needs to see the people and the river before she kills it.”
