NORTHEAST
▷
Chetwynd
▷
Dawson Creek
▷
District of Mackenzie
▷
Fort Nelson
▷
Fort St. John
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Hudson's Hope
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Pouce Coupe
▷
Taylor
▷
Tumbler Ridge
SHARE OF B.C.
POPULATION 1.3%
T
hough sparsely populated, the plains and
foothills of the Northeast make an outsized
contribution to B.C.'s economic output. This
is the wellspring of the energy industry, home to
natural gas exploration, production, transmission
and processing as well as much of the renewable
hydroelectric and wind power that's helping fuel
the province's energy transition.
The Northeast is also the locus of metallurgical
coal mines that supply the raw material for steel
mills as far away as South Korea and Japan. It
boasts a substantial forest sector, though this has
suffered declines in recent years related to a falling
timber supply, tariffs and duties and other issues.
And, contiguous with the prairie provinces, it has a
resilient agriculture industry based on grains and
cattle ranching.
Statistics consistently show the Northeast has
the highest workforce participation rate among
working-age people in B.C. and among the highest
average household incomes. With average home
prices roughly a third of the cost of Metro Vancouver,
it's a place where young families can thrive.
The Site C hydroelectric project on the Peace
River is now complete. In the coming years, it is
projected to increase B.C. Hydro's electrical output
by approximately 8 percent. And more green energy
may be on the way. Saulteau First Nations and
Natural Forces have plans to expand their existing
Sukunka wind farm with the Sukunka North Wind
Project, an array of up to 10 seven-megawatt wind
turbines south of Chetwynd. The Saulteau are
also working with EDF Renewables to bring the
200-megawatt Taylor Wind Project online. Not to
be outdone, the West Moberly First Nations have a
joint venture with Innergex to build the 200-mW
Stewart Creek Wind Project.
The Few,
the Proud
The energy-rich Northeast punches well above
its weight economically
54 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5 Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
