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Fitzsimmons Creek Renewable Energy Project

The Project

The Fitzsimmons Creek Renewable Energy Project will produce enough energy to match Whistler Blackcomb’s total annual energy consumption. While the company still has a ways to go, this is a significant start.

Located entirely within Whistler Blackcomb’s operating area, the run-of-river project will produce 33 gigawatt hours of hydro electricity per year –  the equivalent of powering the ski resort’s winter and summer operations including 38 lifts, 17 restaurants, 270 snowguns and countless other buildings and services.

The Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project has a single turbine with a capacity of 7.9 megawatts.

Soaring high in the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola at 436m/1,427 feet above Fitzsimmons Valley, you will see the Fitzsimmons Creek Renewable Energy project below. This photo was taken during Winter 2008.2009 during mid-construction.

Stakeholders

The Fitzsimmons Creek Renewable Energy Project is owned by Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Limited Partnership, a partnership between Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. and Ledcor Power Group. Whistler Blackcomb is a strategic partner in the project. The power generated by the project will be sold to British Columbia’s hydro electric utility, BC Hydro and Power Authority under a 40-year term.

Environmental Impact

After six years of studies and planning, Whistler Blackcomb is very confident that the Fitzsimmons Creek is an ideal stream for a run-of-river project. The creek area provides the ultimate conditions for a successful small hydro electric project:

• there is an abundance of water
• the area has the necessary vertical drop
• the diversion reach (stream length between the intake and powerhouse) is not fish-bearing
• it is not used recreationally within the project area.
• The creek is already tied extensively into Whistler Blackcomb’s snowmaking system
• much of the area that has been developed for this project runs along an existing access road for Whistler Blackcomb’s operations.
• The project does not require above-ground transmission lines and the lines can be buried through a previously disturbed area.

The project also supports the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s 2020 plan, which lays out a vision for success through 2020 based on the three pillars of sustainability; economic, social and environmental.

Construction Milestones

July - October 2008

• Groundbreaking begins
• Spillway structure completed
• Penstock installation adjacent to the WSC started
• Powerhouse excavation
• Major equipment ordered

March - September 2009

• Crews installed and then buried 3.5km of penstock (pipeline).
• Completion of concrete work on penstock, intake and powerhouse.

• Graded and seeded the right-of-way for re-growth over the buried penstock.
• Erected the powerhouse superstructure.
• Received and commenced installation of the single turbine.
• The 450m-long transmission line installed and buried.

October-December 2009

• Electrical equipment and generator will be delivered to site and installed in the powerhouse.
• Interior work on powerhouse including HVAC, plumbing and architectural.

Commissioning and Commercial Operation Date is expected to occur in late November to early December with the anticipation that the run-of-river project will be producing power by Christmas.

The Symphony Express Chairlift Project

The Symphony Express high-speed chairlift opened on December 16, 2006, bringing access to 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. This area, known as the Symphony Amphitheatre, was previously accessed only by hiking in and
out, provides an inbounds backcountry experience to skiers and riders.

Construction Phase

A team consisting of a ski area planner, lift engineer, biologist, Black bear researcher, and professional forester worked on a sustainable design that had to manage a lift with 2,400-hour capacity, but could not alter the natural wildlife and fish ecosystems. Through team and public consultation

Whistler Blackcomb placed habitat protection at the centre of its 2006 Symphony Project, which involved expanding its terrain into an alpine area known as the Piccolo Peak/Symphony basin. The team developed a minimalist design that kept wildlife habitat intact. Ultimately the project’s footprint was reduced to less than five per cent, down from an original estimate of 40 per cent.

Symphony Amphitheatre Facts & Stats

Reducing the footprint:

• The team focused only on moving trees that were between tree islands or presented a disease threat. This mimics the natural succession of forests at higher elevations as trees need to cluster to survive. Forest species composition was essential, leaving trees that represented a minority species percentage of the overall stand.  Seventy per cent of the stand was sub-alpine Fir with the remainder being Hemlock and Cedar.   

• Each day during logging operations photos and observations were made at all designated visual corridors. Changes were made on a daily basis to ensure no linear or other unnatural visual affect occurred.
• Trees were removed via helicopter and all lift towers and assemblies were placed via helicopter.
• This selective forestry approach called a “silviculture prescription” enhanced lichen production for deer and berry production for black bears.
• Denning and wetlands areas were completely safeguarded from development. Landings for harvested trees and lift tower assembly were allocated in a different watershed where ground was already disturbed. The bottom lift station location was relocated to stay out of sub-alpine wetlands
• Setbacks were established for water courses, ensuring no unnatural sediment flow.

• All lift foundations were built over the snow ensuring ground disturbance was reduced to the foundation site only. This work was done in April/May 2006 under a one to three meter snow pack. Thirty-five to 40-tonne excavators worked overnight and early morning while the snow pack was firm. Meanwhile, fuel was flown to work sites.
• Limited blasting work was performed only by hand drills.
• Course woody debris was prescribed at the direction of a biologist.
• Fuel loads were assessed to ensure low future fire threats.

Micro-Hydro Project

In addition to reducing the ecological footprint of the Symphony Express, Whistler Blackcomb also implemented a renewable energy source to power several man-made features related to the chairlift. This 10-kilowatt turbine in Flute Creek, which is adjacent to the Symphony Chair, powers the lights and heat for the lift hut and washroom at the base of the Symphony Express Chair. The micro-hydro project was the first project of its kind for the ski resort.

Awards

• In 2006, Whistler Blackcomb received the Tourism British Columbia Award for Environmentally Responsible Tourism and was recognized for its work on the Symphony Express.
• In 2007, Whistler Blackcomb received the Silver Eagle Award for Fish & Wildlife Habitat Protection for the development of the Symphony Amphitheatre.