BC Hydro is gearing up to electrify the North Coast, with a proposed project that would see the construction of 450 kms of 500-kilovolt transmission lines running between the Williston substation near Prince George and the Skeena substation near Terrace.
To ensure that the local community has a voice in this initiative, BC Hydro has organized a series of information and consultation sessions. One such session is scheduled to take place in Burns Lake on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lakes District Secondary School multi-purpose room located at 685 Highway 16 W. This session will provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about the project and ask any questions they may have.
“We have been aware of this project for several years. It is a big project that is necessary to the region – especially the northern half of B.C, from which most of the wealth comes from. Anytime they want to improve infrastructure up here with minimal impact on the people and the surroundings, it is good. However, Cheslatta and the Southside community have suffered long enough from the lack of modern electrical infrastructure and have lost many lucrative opportunities over the years due to outdated power lines, and lack of three-phase industrial power supply to sustain bigger projects. We hope that with this project, consideration is given to upgrading and updating the power lines here as well,” said Mike Robertson, Senior Policy Advisor, Cheslatta First Nation. “If they are going to be upgrading hundreds of miles of the primary power grid, they need to ensure the industrial economic development opportunities on the Southside are not ignored.”
According to BC Hydro, the North Coast region of British Columbia is experiencing rapid growth in multiple sectors, including mining, clean fuels, technology, and liquified natural gas. Industry players are increasingly interested in using clean electricity to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the existing transmission lines and associated infrastructure are unable to meet the potential electricity demand.
To address this need, BC Hydro is planning to build capacitor stations along each section of the proposed transmission route. In fact, in 2022, BC Hydro initiated the construction of three new capacitor stations along the current 500 kV lines connecting Prince George to Terrace. These stations, located near Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, and Telkwa, will enhance the capacity of the transmission lines by boosting the amount of power they can carry.
So far, BC Hydro has held open houses in Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Prince George, Terrace, and Smithers. Additionally, virtual open houses will be held on May 23 and May 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Those interested in attending the virtual events can register by emailing projects@bchydro.com by May 18.