There may still be hope for Atlantic Power in Williams Lake with the announcement a tri-ministry working group has been formed to explore short-and long-term solutions for the challenges the company faces.
In January of 2024, Atlantic Power gave notice to cease operations in Williams Lake in January of 2025 due to an inability to be profitable under its current contract conditions with BC Hydro.
Opened in 1993, the plant is an independent power producer utilizing wood waste generated from sawmills and logging debris.
Williams Lake city council hosted a special council meeting Monday, June 17, with multiple stakeholders and representatives from various levels of government, including Premier David Eby, appearing by video, and staff from three provincial ministries.
"At the meeting senior officials committed to working with the City, Atlantic Power and Utilities," noted a news release from the city.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor said it was "exceptional" to hear a commitment from Premier Eby to ensure this complex issue within the province will be given the attention and coordination it deserves.
“We heard from the community about the far-reaching impacts to the business community," Rathor said. "The company provides not only direct jobs, but supports many contractors and suppliers in the community. The economic impacts of this and importance of working together to find a solution are significant.”
Staff from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and the Ministry of Forests will be part of the working group with the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation will be leading the coordinated effort, noted the news release.
At the meeting council also heard from Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce president Paul French, representatives from United Steel Workers Local 1-2017 Jessica Garreau and Andrew Deley, Tsi Del Del Biomass Ltd. manager Joe Webster and board member and Tsi Del Del Coun. Percy Guichon, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, and Atlantic Power and Utilities vice president of operations Sean Gillespie.
“We are asking the province to treat this matter with the urgency that is required,” Rathor said. “The deadline for a final decision is October 15, 2024, which is before the provincial election, and it is imperative we find a solution prior to the summer break for the legislature and the election being called in early September.”
Throughout the meeting, community support for working to find a viable solution for Atlantic Power to continue operations in Williams Lake was unified.
“Members of the community have expressed profound dismay at the thought of a viable, operating plant and good corporate citizen being shuttered during a time when the Province is looking to increase electrification across British Columbia,” said Beth Veenkamp, the city's manager of economic development.
“While there are new forms of electricity generation being developed, we are years away from any of those initiatives actually being built and producing power. Atlantic Power already provides this, and we will continue to urge the province to see the benefits of supporting this local independent power producer.”
The deadline to rescind the notice that Atlantic Power served to BC Hydro is October 15, 2024, before the upcoming provincial election. Having a new agreement in place before the election will ensure the company can continue to make fibre purchase agreements for its winter 2025 operations.
The meeting can be viewed on the City’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/CityWL.
