Several First Nations and municipalities across the North Island are asking for a second transmission line to be built to help stop or at least reduce power outages.
According to the District of Port Hardy, an open letter has been submitted in cooperation with the Quatsino, Kwakiutl, Namgis and Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw First Nations along with the villages of Alert Bay, Port Alice, and Zeballos to support the line.
The district says increased outages put everyone at risk and have the potential to be life-threatening.
“The unreliable grid poses significant threats to the health and safety of our citizens, leading to the necessary development of diesel backup generators for our critical infrastructure to ensure undisrupted services in the region,” they say. “The cost, and environmental impacts associated with diesel generation will only increase as the reliability of BC Hydro’s grid further deteriorates.
“The District of Port Hard alone has spent approximately $700,000 on backup generators for water and sewer operations over the past 10 years.”
They add the increased demand, and deteriorating grid, also poses significant impacts to the economy of the region, and businesses are faced with a loss of revenue.
According to a media release, in 2022 the district commissioned a study to present and evaluate solutions to the issues for North Vancouver Island, listing the preferred solution is the creation of a power loop through the construction of additional transmission.
This would involve connecting the Jeune Landing and Woss substations.
