The Province has given the go ahead to an ambitious project to bring electricity north from Terrace along Highway 37 to Bob Quinn Lake. Premier Gordon Campbell announced the particulars on Monday, detaling how the 400 million dollar project known as the Northwestern Transmission Line, is expected to open up the Northwest to economic development.
The project is one of the controversial public-private projects that sees private enterprise share in the costs and developments of what once were purely publicly funded projects.
The planned 335 kilometre, 287-kilovolt line has been described as an economic catalyst for the region and will be of particular use to the number of mining interests in the region.
With its arrival however, could come controversy as a number of provincial critics and local area residents have expressed concern at the scope and pace of development in one of the great untapped regions of the province.
Before the project goes ahead it will have to follow the usual routine of hearings, consultations and assessments. It is a process that will most likely feature more than a few submissions questioning the need and scope of the project in the Northwest.
The Daily News featured the announcement on the front page of Tuesday’s paper.
NEW POWER CORRIDOR SET TO FIRE UP THE NORTH, CAMPBELL
Remote communities will be connected to grid and opportunity
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Pages one and three
Premier Gordon Campbell has given the green light to a half-billion dollar project that will see remote communities in Northwestern B. C. connected to the electrical grid by 2009.
Speaking from Vancouver, Campbell said the $400 million dollar Northwestern Transmission Line (NTL) will extend the British Columbia Transmission Corporation’s electrical grid from the Skeena substation near Terrace to Bob Quinn Lake and will open the Northwest to economic development.
“The electrification of the Northwest region will benefit all British Columbians by building new infrastructure that will improve access to clean, green electricity sources,” said Campbell.
“Designed as a form of public-private partnership, the Northwest Transmission Line will not only stimulate job creation but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving access to renewable resources and decreasing reliance on diesel-electric power generation for industry and communities,” he explained.
The NTL project is a partnership between NovaGold, which is developing the Galore Creek copper, gold and silver mine 150 kilometres northwest of Stewart, and the province, through the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC.)
Galore Creek is contributing $158 million to the project. The balance, $242 million, will be paid by BC Hydro and recovered through rates.
The new 287 kilovolt line will extend 335 km from Terrace to Meziadin Junction and north to Bob Quinn Lake and will allow NovaGold to operate its mine once the transmission line is up and running.
“The Galore Creek Partnership sees the high-capacity transmission line as very positive for the communities of Northwest B. C. and for the Galore Creek mine,” said Doug Brown, president of the Galore Creek Mining Corporation.
“NovaGold and Teck Cominco are pleased to be able to support the development of infrastructure that encourages long-term use of clean, renewable energy sources.”
The Galore Creek mine has the potential to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and 500 full time jobs.
The electrification of Highway 37 as the route is known, has long been on the radar of mining companies operating in British Columbia.
However, the new line also opens opportunities for independent power producers and brings the province one step closer to connecting with the Alaskan electrical grid, which is currently isolated from the Lower 48.
“This kind of capital investment delivers on an Energy Plan commitment to deliver reliable, clean power to meet our province’s growing demand,” said Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “The Northwest Transmission Line reflects sound transmission planning and shows this government is looking ahead to find long-term opportunities.”
Building the NTL project will depend on an environmental assessment, permitting and First Nations consultation. Community and First Nations engagement has begun through a process of consultation and information exchange. Future public and stakeholder engagement will include meetings, public open houses and information sessions by BCTC.
At this time, BC Hydro has two 25 kilovolt single-phase distribution lines at Meziadin that go south about 30 km to pick up some small individual loads and two 25 kilovolt single-phase distribution lines at Aiyansh that go west to the coast to supply the Kinkolith band (approximately 75 km) and northwest to Nass Camp (11 km).
The new line will be owned by BC Hydro and operated by BCTC as part of BC Hydro’s transmission system. BCTC will be responsible for planning this transmission project, ensuring appropriate approvals and permits are received, and contracting for the project’s construction. BCTC is scheduled to deliver power to the Bob Quinn substation by October 2009, with full project completion by fall 2011.
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