VANCOUVER — The federal government has announced it will put up to $83.6 towards developing electrical infrastructure in the Peace Region in northeastern British Columbia.
The funding will go towards the Peace Region Electricity Supply (PRES) project, which will expand existing transmission infrastructure with two parallel 230 kilovolt power lines between the future Site C Substation near Fort St. John, B.C. and Groundbirch Substation, located 30 kilometres east of Chetwynd. Energy demand in the region is increasing primarily due to the gas industry, explained a release.
“Transitioning to cleaner electricity is essential to protecting the environment, creating more sustainable communities and building a clean future for our kids and grandkids. This important project will encourage Canadian businesses to transition to renewable energy, boosting the economic growth in the Peace Region and promoting a greener way of life for all British Columbians,” said federal Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi at an announcement in Vancouver on behalf of federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Francois-Phillipe Champagne.
BC Hydro will supply the remaining $205.4 million for the project, bringing the total funding to $298 million.
“We know the gas industry is a primary driver for electricity demand in the South Peace Region. The PRES project will ensure we can reliably provide electricity to our industrial customers who want to power their facilities with clean energy – significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” BC Hydro president and CEO Chris O’Riley said.
“Working with our federal partners, we are delivering the clean energy communities, businesses and industry need, while meeting our CleanBC goals. This investment helps B.C. build a low-carbon economy that includes all sectors and provides more opportunities for people,” B.C. Premier John Horgan added.
Construction of the PRES project begins this summer. Geotechnical work occurred last summer, with line clearing starting in July 2018 and continuing until this summer. Groundbirch Station construction will go until late fall 2020 with the Site C Substation portion of the project concluding in spring 2021. Sewer line construction will begin this summer and will go until fall 2021.
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