1. Electric Avenue… Generating Power in BC

2. How does British Columbia generate most of its energy?
Over 80% of our electricity comes from hydroelectric facilities.
Can you think of any local dams that produce electricity?

3. How is energy produced?

4. BC generates 16% of Canada’s hydroelectricity.
Stave Lake and Ruskin Dam produce electricity for the local area.
7 million homes can be powered by the amount of hydroelectricity generated in BC.
BC generates 16% of Canada’s hydroelectricity.

5. Dams generate electricity by channeling water through turbines at high speeds.
The turbines extract the energy from the falling water and convert that energy into electric power through the generators.

6. Buntzen Lake power station

7. Water diverted from Coquitlam Lake to Buntzen Lake:

13. Buntzen lake was the first hydro electricity project established in British Columbia.
Much of the infrastructure is now worn down and out of use; however, Buntzen lake still producing about 0.5% of energy we consume in the lower mainaland.

14. Stave Lake Powerhouse
Built between , up-graded in Works along with power stations at Alouette Lake and Hayward Lake.
Photo: E. Williams

15. Revelstoke Dam on the Columbia River completed in 1984.
Photo: Wikipedia

16. Revelstoke Dam
Photo: E. Williams

17. Brilliant Dam on the Kootenay River near Castlegar
Brilliant Dam on the Kootenay River near Castlegar. Finished in 1944 just after the Second World War.
Photo: Wikipedia

18. The Hoover Dam in Nevada, US.
Constructed between during the great depression. At the time it was the biggest dam in the world.

19. Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington, US
Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington, US. Largest dam in the US and 5th largest in the world.

20. What are the positives and negatives of hydroelectric power??
Is it “green energy”?

21. Dam those dam dams! What are some problems caused by dams?
Disturb migratory populations (salmon/trout)
Disturb flow of sediment
Increase erosion/soil disturbance
Natural ecosystem can be disturbed/destroyed
Dams can break (200,000 killed in China, 600 killed in California)
Greenhouse gas (decomposed organic material)

22. Dam dams! What’s the problem with them?

23. Life after dam! Time-lapse removal

24. Life after dams.