B.C.’s Eby tilts at Trump’s dislike of windmills to jolt provincial call to power

A solar panel array is seen outside the administration building at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, June 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — Premier David Eby used British Columbia’s latest call for more power sources to invite American clean energy producers to the province after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized “ugly” windmills in Scotland.

Trump called the wind turbines near his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland “ugly monsters,” prompting Eby to issue the call to producers in the United States to come to B.C., where there’s support for clean energy.

In the latest call to power, BC Hydro is looking for renewable sources to generate almost as much energy as the new Site C dam in northeastern B.C.

BC Hydro’s request for proposals is looking for up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of electricity from large clean or renewable projects in partnership with First Nations and independent power producers.

BC Hydro has said Site C will generate 5,100 gigawatt hours each year, enough to power about 450,000 homes.

Eby says boosting the clean energy supply will support growing communities and industries, while creating thousands of good-paying jobs.

BC Hydro completed its first call to power in more than 15 years in 2024, resulting in 10 new renewable energy projects.

Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the request for energy will bring investment and accelerate progress toward B.C.’s economic and climate goals.

“We’re doubling down on renewable power, expanding our grid and supporting First Nations leadership in energy development, all while helping communities and businesses access the clean electricity they need to grow,” Dix says in a statement released Monday.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025.