NTL
Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
Welcome
Welcome to the BC Transmission Corporation’s (BCTC)
Community Information Session for the potential Northwest
Transmission Line (NTL).
The purpose of this information session is to:
Provide you with information about the potential project
Answer your questions
Hear your perspectives and points of view
Representatives from BCTC are here to answer your questions.
Before you leave, please take a few minutes to fill out our
comment form and share your thoughts with us.
NTL
Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
About BCTC
British Columbia Transmission Corporation
BCTC is the Crown corporation responsible for planning,
operating and maintaining the province’s publicly owned
transmission system.
Our focus is to build and maintain a safe, reliable and
cost-effective power grid, and our responsibilities include:
Operating the transmission grid
Managing and maintaining the transmission system assets
Providing interconnection services for transmission customers
Planning new investments in the transmission system
BCTC reports to the Minister of Energy, Mines & Petroleum
Resources and is regulated by the British Columbia Utilities
Commission (BCUC).
NTL
Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
The Transmission Grid
Electricity is moved throughout the province using an
interconnected grid of:
Approximately 18,200 kilometres of transmission lines
95,000 towers and poles
264 substations
5 control centres
The transmission grid in B.C. operates at voltages from
69 kilovolts (kV) to 500 kV and stretches over 75,000 hectares.
NTL
Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
Northwest
Transmission Line
Northwest B.C. is not connected to the provincial electrical power
grid beyond Meziadin Junction and the Port of Stewart.
BCTC has been conducting research and studying options to
expand electricity service in northwest B.C. Most recently, our
studies have focused on the option of a potential new transmission
line – the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL).
If built, the potential NTL would extend service north of Meziadin
Junction to Bob Quinn Lake.
Currently, NTL is not a project. If it proceeds, it would include:
A 287 kilovolt (kV), 335 km transmission line between Skeena
substation (near Terrace) and Bob Quinn Lake
New supporting equipment at Skeena substation
A new substation near Bob Quinn Lake
Should the project proceed, it could have an initial in-service date
of October 2009, with full project completion by fall 2011.
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Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
NTL Map
NTL
Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
What would
NTL look like?
If constructed, the potential NTL would be about 335 km long.
Some route studies have been done, but detailed route planning
has not yet taken place.
South of Meziadin Junction, much of the 209 km route would
parallel – but be separate from – the existing 138 kV circuit
right-of-way. Separate right-of-way would be used to:
• Allow the straighter right-of-way required
by a 287 kV circuit
• Minimize visual impacts
• Avoid rough terrain
• Lessen environmental impacts
Between Meziadin Junction and Bob Quinn Lake (126 km),
a new corridor and right-of-way would be needed
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Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
What would
NTL look like?
At this time, engineers are studying the types of structures that
might be used for the potential NTL. Three possibilities include:
The proposed substation near Bob Quinn Lake has not yet been
designed. However, a similar-sized substation near Whistler, B.C.
is shown here.
NTL
Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
Potential Benefits
Supporting Economic Development
Reliable power supply for expected industrial load growth
Renewable Energy
Connecting new independent power projects to the grid
Community Electrification
Providing clean power to communities not yet on the grid
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Reduce reliance on diesel-generated electricity for industry
and homes
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Northwest Transmission Line
Environmental
Assessment Process
In May 2007, BCTC filed with the British Columbia Environmental
Assessment Office (BCEAO) requesting that the potential NTL be
reviewed under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act.
The types of studies that will be undertaken include:
Aquatic species and habitat
Terrestrial ecosystems, vegetation and wildlife
Land use and socio-economic/socio-community conditions
Forestry
Visual landscape and recreational resources
First Nations traditional knowledge, use and related
aboriginal interests
Heritage and archaeological resources
Public health and safety
Geotechnical and natural hazards
The potential NTL will likely also require a screening-level
assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
How can you get involved?
Public input is an important part of the environmental assessment
process. Visit the BCEAO website for more details:
www.eao.gov.bc.ca
You can provide comments directly to the BCEAO.
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Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
Next steps
At this point, NTL is not a project. If it proceeds, next steps
would include:
Continuing the Environmental Assessment Process
(provincial and federal)
Applying to the BC Utilities Commission for a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)
Ongoing engagement and consultation with First Nations with
interests in this potential project
Ongoing engagement and consultation with communities and
stakeholders
Detailed routing and design studies
If it receives an environmental assessment certificate and a CPCN,
construction of the line would take approximately 2.5 to 3 years.
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Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
Have your say…
We are interested in hearing what you have to say.
Please feel free to share your comments with everyone.
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Potential
Northwest Transmission Line
Thank you for coming
The information gathered this evening will be taken into
consideration as the evaluation of the potential Northwest
Transmission Line continues.
A summary of the community information sessions will be
available on our website in July 2007 (www.bctc.com)
If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to fill out a
comment form and drop it in the box provided.
Be sure to include your contact information if you would like us
to send you updates.
You can also provide feedback via the BCTC website at
www.bctc.com or by contacting our Community Relations
Department:
Phone:
Toll-Free:
Fax:
Email:
Mail:
604-699-7300
1-866-647-3334
604-699-7540
community.relations@bctc.com
Suite 1100, Four Bentall Centre
1055 Dunsmuir Street, PO Box 49260
Vancouver, BC V7X 1V5