The Province wants to dramatically expand electric charging infrastructure over the next decade while simultaneously hoping to conserve energy. Since 2016, the Government of Canada has allocated more than $1 billion in funding to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations across the country, including developing the Electric Highway. Moving forward, B.C. intends to […]
BC Hydro
A Major Battery Energy Storage Project is Coming to Vancouver Island
British Columbia is planning to build a sizeable battery energy storage facility. BC Hydro revealed this week that the new project, to be situated adjacent to the Vancouver Island Terminal Substation near Duncan, will deliver at least 100 megawatts of “flexible” battery storage capacity. Reliable electricity “is essential to our quality of life and our […]
Free Smart Thermostats Available in B.C. to Help Residents Lower Energy Bills
BC Hydro has launched the latest part of its Power Smart 2.0 plan. Unveiled earlier this year, BC Hydro’s Power Smart 2.0 plan is a $1-billion, three-year investment designed to help people save energy and lower bills. Effective immediately, people throughout B.C. can register to receive free smart thermostats, according to the province’s minister of […]
As Inflation Pressures Canadians, BC Hydro Unveils Power Smart V2
BC Hydro this week unveiled Power Smart 2.0, the organization’s largest conservation program yet. Supported by $1 billion in investment, Power Smart 2.0 builds on 35 years of conservation in British Columbia via the original Power Smart and is designed to offer customers practical ways to save on energy with minimal effort. The launch comes […]
BC Hydro Helps Power Launch of Multi-Acre Rooftop Solar Array in Sun-Swept Okanagan
In 2016, Michael and Sharon Molnar purchased the former site of the shuttered Lavington Glass Plant in Coldstream. The Molnars then launched their own company, Restoration Lands, with big ideas for the 92-acre industrial site near Vernon, which included a 450,000-square-foot glass plant. The main idea was the Okanagan Eco Industrial Park, which aims to […]
Why BC Hydro is ‘Doubling Down on Renewable Power’ with Latest Call to Action
British Columbia’s provincial energy supplier has launched another call for power, seeking to secure new sources of affordable, clean electricity that will support the region’s economy and create skilled jobs, according to Premier David Eby. “B.C. will be the economic engine of Canada’s new economy, and that engine will be powered by abundant clean electricity,” […]
BC Hydro and the Province Collab with Local Firm to Launch Electrification Pilot
As the region’s population increases steadily, BC Hydro has launched a “pioneering pilot project” in collaboration with the provincial government in a bid to support more housing powered by clean electricity. The new initiative from the Province and BC Hydro—described as a “Canadian first”—is aimed at supporting the electrification of multi-unit residential buildings. The project […]
BC Hydro Outlines Goals for Province’s Power Grid in ‘Clean Power Action Plan’
The Province of British Columbia this month published a report on the current state, and planned future, of the region’s power grid. The May 2025 report, titled “Energizing our economy: B.C.’s Clean Power Action Plan,” highlights the fact that 98% of the province’s electricity is generated from clean sources. The report introduces the “Clean Power […]
$3M in Funding Available for B.C. Energy Innovation
The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) has launched the Call for Energy Storage Innovation, a strategic partnership with BC Hydro aimed at advancing scalable energy storage solutions and grid innovations across the province. The initiative offers up to $3 million in non-dilutive funding for projects that accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies. “We have partnered with […]
Canadian Investment Aims to Supercharge B.C.’s Electric Highway and Beyond
The Province of British Columbia continues to invest toward an ambitious goal: to electrify the highways of B.C. and ensure that every community has access to a fast-charging station. The government earmarked $30 million in its 2024 budget to add more than 500 public charging stations, building on roughly 5,000 currently in place today. “We […]