It was announced by British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell on Monday that the government will go ahead with plans to build a $6.6 billion hydroelectric dam on the Peace River.

The Vancouver Sun has reported that the 900-megawatt W. A. C. Bennett Dam project near Hudson's Hope is expected to create 35,000 direct and indirect jobs by the time it is completed in 2020.

The newspaper further said that it has yet to pass required environmental assessments and could face court challenges, as well.

The dam will produce "clean, renewable and affordable power" and "will ensure that British Columbia has reliable sources of clean electricity while contributing to our goal of electricity self-sufficiency," Campbell said in a release. (With Inputs from Agencies)