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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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PROJECT TO ENSURE RELIABLE POWER FOR VANCOUVER
ISLAND |
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VICTORIA
– Following more than three years of
extensive public consultations, two independent studies and input from federal
and provincial health organizations, the Province has announced that
construction of overhead lines for the Tsawwassen segment of the Vancouver
Island Transmission Reinforcement (VITR) Project will move forward. This
upgrade has been designed with the strictest health and safety measures and
exceeds guidelines endorsed by the World Health Organization.
The VITR project will ensure a reliable supply of power
for over 700,000 residents, social infrastructure and business services on
Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands.
The
three-year process included more than 40 presentations, briefings and public
open houses, 1,600 requests for information responded to, validation from
Health Canada and input from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser
Valley Health Authority, Vancouver Island Health Authority and First Nations.
The
project will remove a total of 58 poles. The current 78 wooden poles will be
replaced with 20 new steel poles at 18 locations along the existing
right-of-way that have been in place for 50 years.
Of
the 18 pole locations on the right-of-way, nine are residential, three are
owned by BC Hydro and six are non-residential or public spaces. The two lines
that now flank each side of the right-of-way will be removed and replaced by a
single set of poles.
Construction
on this project will not start before June 1, 2008, which will allow for a full
pre-construction notification and survey process and ensure that information is
made available to all residents. Government is willing to consider the option
of purchasing homes of affected homeowners on the right-of-way if they desire.
The
government commissioned two independent studies to review the various proposals
that had been brought forward by the British Columbia Transmission Corporation
(BCTC) and a community organization. The independent studies confirmed the
results of the BCTC cost estimates.
The
decision to move forward with the overhead line construction is consistent with
the British Columbia Utilities Commission and is scheduled to be in service by
October 2008.
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contact: |
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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