The Editor,
Re. “Locals no fans of Burrard closure” (The Tri-City News, April 1).
The Burrard Thermal power generating plant electrical power generating equipment should not be dismantled, as has been proposed by BC Hydro.
Separate and apart from its present role as an emergency standby plant, Burrard Thermal fills an important role in firming up the capacity of all the hydroelectric power plants in British Columbia.
During a low-water year when the snow pack is low in the Peace and Columbia river areas, Burrard is needed to re-establish efficient operating water levels in the hydro dam reservoirs.
In November 1989, all six units at Burrard Thermal were taken out of mothballs and placed into service at full load for more than a year. That power was essential and valuable to all electrical customers in B.C.
Over $300 million has been spent in the installation of environmental protection equipment at Burrard Thermal during the past 25 years, including the installation of catalytic scrubbers on all six boilers. All oil-burning equipment has been removed from the boilers, thus eliminating sulphur dioxide Emissions.
The combustion controls have all been upgraded to ensure no hydrocarbons are unburned before entering the stack.
There is an abundance of clean natural gas available to power the plant. Burrard Thermal is one of the cleanest thermal power generating plants in all of Canada and the United States. And the plant being located in Port Moody near the centre of a major load centre — the Lower Mainland — is seen as a jewel by every other utility in Canada and the U.S.A.
Climate change is a major global concern. Many countries are experiencing extended drought seasons. Large hydroelectric units require large volumes of water. They have to be shut down when water reservoir levels are very low.
In my opinion, it would be an irresponsible, costly mistake to scrap the power generating equipment at Burrard Thermal. Both Site C and Burrard Thermal are needed to provide secure, reliable, low-cost power to all domestic, commercial and industrial customers in the future.
Art Zink, Coquitlam
