Power Line easement request
Run of River applies for park boundary change
2008-01-02 06:12 MT - News Release
Mr. Jako Krushnisky reports
RUN OF RIVER APPLIES FOR PERMISSION TO CROSS PARK
Run of River Power Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Northwest Cascade Power Ltd. (NWCP), has submitted an application for a park boundary adjustment to B.C. Parks (Ministry of Environment) in respect to its Pitt River hydropower project. The application is supported by a series of detailed engineering, environmental and socio-economic studies which fulfill the requirements of the provincial government Provincial Park Boundary Adjustment Policy, Process and Guidelines.
Jako Krushnisky, Run of River's president, stated: "This application represents the culmination of 18 months of technical studies, consultations and meetings with government, first nations and stakeholders. The park boundary adjustment is required to provide for a 4.6-kilometre-long transmission line corridor across a remote mountain pass in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park."
The proposed 230-kilovolt power line will be 42 kilometres long and will transmit renewable energy from the Upper Pitt River area to B.C. Hydro's "Cheekye" electrical substation near Squamish. Mr. Krushnisky further noted, "With hydrology studies now complete the seven projects will have a combined capacity of 180 megawatts up from 161 megawatts and will generate an estimated 557 gigawatt hours per year of electricity." These sites were chosen not only for the suitability of high-elevation creeks for run-of-river green hydro, but for the proximity to the major population of the Lower Mainland, where so much of B.C.'s new residential and commercial growth have increased the demand for electricity.
NWCP has also applied for an environmental assessment certificate under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act. The park boundary adjustment is a separate process that is being pursued simultaneously and together these processes combine all of the major permits required for the project.