POWER LINE REVIEW STARTS
THE LONG-AWAITED start of the environmental review of the Northwest Transmission Line is good news, says the executive director of the Terrace Economic Development Authority.
Speaking April 15, the day the planned 335km, $404 million line that will provide power up Hwy37 North officially entered the 180-day review period, Sam Harling said the line will have other benefits as well.
“I know this is big for miners who have properties up there, but there are now bio-energy companies interested and perhaps there’s potential for users we haven’t even thought of yet,” said Harling.
“This line isn’t just about mines anymore. There’s lots of positives in this.”
Harling’s referring to a number of potential run of river and other independent power producing potential projects which need the Northwest Transmission Line to move any power they would generate onto the provincial grid.
The B.C. Transmission Corporation, the provincial crown corporation which would build the line, is holding a public meeting here April 29 to take questions.
The session is one of three in the region, the others are in Dease Lake and Smithers, and all three are part of a 45-day period in which members of the public are encouraged to comment about the project.
“It’s extremely important that people come out to learn about the project and to show their concerns or their support,” said Harling.
He listed Red Chris, a copper property belonging to Imperial Metals, and Galore Creek, another copper property belonging to NovaGold Resources and Teck Cominco, as major developments needing reliable electrical power to make them viable as mines.
“Physically, they can’t run on [diesel] generators and we wouldn’t want that environmentally anyway,” said Harling. “For them, the line becomes very important.”
If all goes according to plan, the environmental assessment will be completed and in the hands of the provincial energy and environment ministers for a decision by Oct. 12.
They can take up to 45 days to decide to approve or not approve construction.
Given an accommodating timeline, the line could be energized in 2013.
“We are confident that we have put together a solid application, and we look forward to lots of positive discussion during the review period,” said transmission corporation official Lesley Wood.
The review will also encompass access and other negotiations with the Nisga’a Nation and with northwestern First Nations.
Estimates place the line’s costs at $404 million and the province is banking on a commitment from the federal government to contribute up to $130 million.
The province expects to recoup its investment from mining companies tapping into the line and from independent power producers who will feed into the line.
The 287kV Northwest Transmission Line will replace a 138kv one now running from the Skeena Substation near Terrace to another sub station at Meziadin Junction on Hwy37 North and then head north, paralleling the highway.
Byng Giraud from Imperial Metals, the mining company with the Red Chris property and the company that wants to be the line’s first customer, was pleased the environmental review had started.
“We have a timeline for our project that takes us to 2013 and it would be preferred for us to have the line ready by then,” he said.
Imperial Metals will need to build its own line from its Red Chris property which is 23km east of Hwy37 North just south of Iskut to the end of the Northwest Transmission Line at Bob Quinn. That’s a total distance of approximately 110km.
Giraud said approval for the section of line from the property to the highway came with the overall approval for the Red Chris development.
He didn’t expect environmental approval for line construction south to Bob Quinn to be an issue.
