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The government of British Columbia began the destruction of the Peace River Valley last month, a fertile land that originates in the Rocky Mountains of Northern British Columbia. Soon after awarding a $1.5 billion civil works contract to developers, construction crews began the large scale deforestation of the region.

And according to Canadian news outlet The Tyee, taxpayers in B.C. will be expected to fund at least $7.5 billion of the project by the time it is finished.

The government’s plan comes as a fix-all to finding cheap and plentiful power by building a dam in the Peace River Valley.

The government-dubbed “Site C Clean Energy Project” will open up many kilometers of the valley and flood the valley river bottom, despite the fact that much of it is valuable Class 1 agricultural land. The eventual plan is to generate enough power to light up approximately 450,000 homes, according to a B.C. spokesperson.

President and CEO of BC Hydro Jessica McDonald said that "Site C is essential to keeping the lights on while maintaining low rates for our customers." A government press release echoed this sentiment, stating that the dam "will provide British Columbia with the most affordable, reliable clean power for over 100 years."

Adding to the chorus of pro-development voices, minister of energy and mines Bill Bennett said, "It's clear that to keep rates low, we must choose the option of building Site C."

But at what cost is the lure of cheap power worth it?

Critics from the ecology, farming, economist and First Nations communities allege that the government claims about the project and intended consequences are false. They argue that the project is frivolous and a money maker for a select few with stakes in the dam, not a necessary solution to a power problem. The decrease in mining, fracking and natural gas prices is already serving to fill the gap in energy costs in the region. And while these methods are not safe on their own, they are certainly a better bet than damming off an entirely new region.

The $13 billion price tag of the government project is also a major deterrent and proof, critics say, that the dam won’t even provide economical relief for power users.

In addition, there is no science to suggest that Hydroelectric dams are eco-friendly.

Former BC Hydro CEO Marc Eliesen stated "It is totally irrational and the project doesn't make any economic sense.”

And critics also claim the government has passed on green energy alternatives like geothermal and solar.

Further, residents and activists are calling for a public review of the project, given that is being undertaken with considerable expense. The relevant public body for such a venture would be the BC Utilities Commission. However, the government of British Columbia has opted the project out of such a review. A government official justified the decision saying "only duly elected officials have a right to make" such large decisions, noting that it is not up to regulatory bodies.