BC Hydro Integrated Resource Plan

Background
BC Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a 20-year plan that describes how the Crown corporation proposes to meet future growth in demand for electricity through energy conservation and clean energy generation. Underpinning this plan is the long-standing electricity planning objective to ensure a reliable, cost-effective electricity supply, as well as achieving important new objectives contained in B.C.’s Clean Energy Act related to clean energy, greenhouse gas reduction and achieving electricity self-sufficiency.

In addition to developing a 20-year plan to meet future domestic electricity requirements, the IRP will include an exploration of market opportunities to export clean electricity to support clean energy and economic development objectives, as well as an assessment of transmission requirements looking 30 years out.

BC Hydro is preparing a long-term Integrated Resource Plan for submission to the Ministry of Energy and Mines by December 2012, after which the government will review the Plan and decide whether to approve it.

Public Materials
Kirk & Co. produced a variety of print, media and web materials to implement the consultation process, and worked with the project team to include easily understandable information about energy planning in the communications materials. Materials included discussion guides, feedback forms and display boards. Kirk & Co. also supported the development of the project website.

Consultation Implementation
Kirk & Co. coordinated and facilitated two rounds of province-wide public and stakeholder consultation, providing facilitation services, as well as meeting recording and logistics support, at stakeholder meetings and open houses. Following each round of consultation, Kirk & Co. produced a Consultation Summary Report, highlighting feedback received through feedback forms, key themes from stakeholder meetings and open houses and submissions from stakeholders.

Key Milestone
Key Milestone includes:

• Completion of two rounds of a province-wide public and stakeholder consultation

Website
BC Hydro Integrated Resource Plan