Overview
Forrest Kerr is a 195 MW hydroelectric power plant in British Columbia, Canada, operated by AltaGas. It supplies renewable energy to the provincial grid.
Forrest Kerr is a hydroelectric power plant located in British Columbia, Canada, with an installed capacity of 195 megawatts. Owned and operated by AltaGas, the facility harnesses the region's abundant water resources to generate clean electricity. As a run-of-river project, it minimizes environmental impact by diverting a portion of the Iskut River through turbines without a large storage reservoir. The plant operates under Canada's federal and provincial regulatory frameworks, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and British Columbia's Clean Energy Act. Hydroelectric power is a dominant source in BC, accounting for over 90% of the province's electricity generation. The 195 MW capacity places Forrest Kerr as a medium-to-large facility within the Canadian hydro sector, contributing to regional grid stability and renewable energy targets. Environmentally, the plant produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation, supporting Canada's climate goals. Its run-of-river design reduces ecological disruption compared to conventional dams, though it still requires careful management of fish habitats and water flows. The facility plays a key role in supplying clean power to remote communities and industrial operations in northwestern British Columbia.
Environmental context
The Forrest Kerr plant is located in a remote, mountainous region of British Columbia with high rainfall and snowmelt, providing consistent water flow for hydroelectric generation. As a run-of-river facility, it avoids large-scale flooding and reservoir emissions, but still requires fish passage measures and flow management to protect aquatic ecosystems. The region's pristine environment benefits from the plant's zero-emission operation, though transmission lines and infrastructure create localized land-use impacts.
Frequently asked questions
Forrest Kerr is located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, on the Iskut River near the Alaska border.
The Forrest Kerr plant has an installed capacity of 195 megawatts (MW).
The facility is owned and operated by AltaGas, a Canadian energy company.
Forrest Kerr is a run-of-river hydroelectric plant, meaning it uses natural river flow without a large storage reservoir.
Hydroelectric projects in Canada must comply with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, and provincial regulations such as British Columbia's Water Sustainability Act.