he minister responsible for energy and climate change solutions in British Columbia says four new windfarms will strengthen the province’s energy sovereignty at a time of rising costs and uncertainty.
Adrian Dix says three projects in the province’s northern region and one near West Kelowna, B.C., will not only generate enough electricity to power 350,000 more homes but also keep energy affordable, while also drawing $4.3 billion in private investment.
The projects are expected to begin coming online as early as 2032, with all projects in service by October 2033 and are expected to create 1,500 jobs throughout the province.
All selected projects exceed 200 megawatts, ranging from 201 to 496 megawatts:
* Bessie Wind Project (Dawson Creek) - 251 megawatts
* Nicola Wind Project (West Kelowna) - 496 megawatts
* Sweetwater Wind Project (Dawson Creek) - 210 megawatts
* Taylor South Wind Project (Taylor) - 201 megawatts
The minister says the current conflicts in the world, including Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the war between Iran and the United States, have profoundly impacted energy markets.
Dix says the conflict in the Middle East, for example, has disrupted oil and gas supplies, forcing countries to save electricity because of rising energy costs.
These conditions, he says, demand that B.C. become more independent when it comes to energy and lean into renewable sources such as wind and solar.
Current trade tensions with the United States, he says, also require B.C. to diversify its natural gas exports toward other markets in the world.
“We have got to lean in, because the conditions in the world are telling us that we, here in B.C., need to be more sovereign, and we are doing just that,” he says.
This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published May 13, 2026.