By Cheryl Jahn

BC Hydro Feedback Sought

Jun 11, 2018 | 7:44 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Representatives from BC Hydro were before Council last night to talk about a proposed upgrade to a major transmission line between the Hudson Hope area to the Clinton area. 
The upgrades are necessary to accommodate getting the additional power being generated in the Peace to markets to the North Coast and the south.

Council learned of three possible options from upgrades, all of which require upgrades to the Williston Substation in Pineview. However, a substation near Mackenzie is approaching 50 years of age and will need to be replaced.
Option 1  recommends building four new capacitors along the current 500-kilovolt lines while removing the Kennedy and McLeese capacitor stations.
Option 2 recommends building two new capacitors and the removal of the Kennedy capacitor.
Option 3 recommends building three capacitors, removing the Kennedy capacitor station and upgrading the McLeese capacitor station.

In the meantime, BC Hydro is seeking public feedback from stakeholders along the line, with a hope to have the preferred option nailed down early in 2019.  Depending on the option chosen, upgrades would be complete sometime between 2024 and 2026.

For more information or an opportunity to provide input, go to www.bchydro.com/pkcp