Skip to content

Letter: Yes, fire up Burrard Thermal in Port Moody

Burrard Thermal, a natural gas-fired power plant in Port Moody, should be reopened as a standby source of electricity for Metro Vancouver, says the letter writer
Burrard Thermal natural gas power plant Port Moody
Burrard Thermal, which hasn't operated for a number of years, was powered by natural gas and produced electricity for Metro Vancouver

The Editor,

Re. "Port Moody’s Burrard Thermal is powerless. Should it fire up again?" (The Tri-City News, Feb. 20).

The existence of the Burrard thermal electricity generating plant is threatened by a steadily rising sea level in the long term. But until that time, it could serve as a very useful local standby electricity source should a windstorm, forest fire or ice storm knock out a power line supplying the Lower Mainland.

Perhaps 10 to 15 years ago, I learned of the Fraser River wood debris trap near Agassiz. The idea came to mind at that time that this might be a source of renewable pelletized wood for the Burrard Thermal plant.

I urge the city of Port Moody to explore the feasibility of this green energy idea, which would not only generate property tax revenue but also local employment and purchasing.

Derek Wilson, Port Moody