Columbia Valley Transmission Line
Like many regions in British Columbia, the Columbia Valley’s demand for electricity is growing. The existing system has reached its capacity and it is not uncommon for the communities between Invermere and Golden to experience power outages.
The Columbia Valley Transmission (CVT) Project is the most significant investment in the upper Columbia Valley’s electrical system in almost 50 years. Once completed in the fall of 2012, the project will provide the region with a reliable supply of clean electricity needed to meet not only the current demand, but also to power future economic development in the region. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2011.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
The project includes three main components:
- Construction of a new Kicking Horse Substation near the town of Golden
- Connecting the Kicking Horse Substation to the existing Invermere Substation with a new 112 kilometre, 230 kilovolt overhead transmission line
- Connecting the Kicking Horse Substation to the existing Golden Substation with a new 3 km, 69 kV overhead transmission line
BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to bringing a much needed reliable supply of electricity to the region, the project has brought economic benefit to the region as local companies and contractors have provided services on several aspects of the project to date, including survey work and right-of-way clearing. Construction of the project will also generate employment opportunities in construction, supply of construction material, and indirectly to businesses within the surrounding communities.
In selecting the final route for the transmission line, regional knowledge was a crucial part of the planning process. In fact, community input was a key factor in changes that were made to the initial proposed route to avoid a herd of mountain goats on the west side of the Toby Creek Canyon. This final route was also designed to minimize impacts and the overall footprint by avoiding crossing National Parks and other environmentally sensitive areas.
QUICK FACTS
- Timeline: In service fall 2012
- Estimated cost: $132-209 million
- To date, the project has provided $8 million worth of employment opportunities in the local community.