CUMBERLAND B.C- Cumberland could be generating it’s own power in the future.
According to material presented to village council on Monday evening, the community’s municipal government is examining the possibility of installing a micro-hydro unit at the No. 2 Dam, which is part of the village’s drinking water system.
It would produce under one megawatt of electricity, and could be used to generate extra revenue for the village.
The key to the project is the BC Hydro standing offer program, which supports micro hydro electric resale.
Rob Crisfield, manager of operations for the village, says if that program is suspended there’s not much they can do.
“There’s no point in building infrastructure now, if its just going to sit there for a number of years.”
They have also applied for a grant from the provincial government that would help reconstruct the damn and prep it for the eventual hydro generation system, but as Crisfield says, that process can take a while.
“We’re probably going to have to wait about six months before we get a decision.”
If that grant gets approved, the village could then add the necessary components.
“If the first grant is approved, we’ll rebuild the damn with a new spillway and then there will be a small intake structure for eventual hydro generation,” said Crisfield.
If the BC Hydro standing offer plan is suspended, it could put a standstill on the project until a later time.
In the short term, the village is waiting to hear from the province on the possibility of a grant.
