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By Caden Fanshaw

HYDRO

Power restored to most of Robson Valley, Valemount thanks to biodiesel back-up generator, IPP’s

Mar 24, 2022 | 12:26 PM

MCBRIDE – Power to most BC Hydro customers in the Robson Valley and through the Valemount corridor has been restored after the McBride biodiesel backup generator, and several Independent Power Producers who got to work to restore the grid Wednesday night.

BC Hydro said at the peak of the outage more than 12,000 customers from Barriere to Valemount, and up the Robson Valley to Dome Creek were without power. As of Thursday around noon, the number of customers still in the dark is believed to be less than 4,000.

Thursday just before 11 am crews discovered the cause of the power outage south of Little Fort where an H frame power structure was damaged.

Crews will head to try and repair the structure Thursday

Customers were without power for longer Wednesday due to an unknown issue at the McBride biodiesel power generating facility which did not automatically kick in as usual.

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The McBride generating station consists of three 1.5-megawatt generators that run on biodiesel – a fuel that consists of a blend of conventional diesel fuel mixed with quantities of organic material derived from waste vegetable oil or animal fat. Two generating units will be dedicated for operation year-round. The third unit operates during winter months when demand is at peak levels. The units are designed to start up automatically when there is a power outage to provide power to the community in and around McBride.

Northern Health confirmed Wednesday evening operations at the healthcare facility in McBride were not affected by the outage and were supplied with their on-site back-up power.