Premier unveils BC Hydro infrastructure spending

Fuelled by increasing demand for electricity to power clean energy projects and grow the economy, BC Hydro intends to amp up community and regional infrastructure projects that will result in close to $36 billion of investment over the next 10 years.

Premier David Eby made the announcement last Tuesday evening at the BC Natural Resources Forum at the Prince George Civic and Conference Centre, citing the need to deliver clean and affordable electricity for British Columbians.

Eby said the updated BC Hydro capital plan spending will dwarf the previous $24 billion plan, with $10 billion set aside for electrification and emissions-free infrastructure projects – a tenfold increase.

New construction on those hydro projects is expected to spark a labour-force growth spurt that will result in between 10,500 and 12,500 jobs annually.

Population growth, new housing construction and more consumers and businesses switching away from fossil fuels are driving BC Hydro’s investment plan.

Among the new projects is a plan to twin the 500,000-volt hydro transmission line from Prince George to Terrace, announced a year ago by BC Hydro president/CEO Chris O’Riley at the Natural Resources Forum. An upgrade to install three capacitor stations to add 500 megawatts and boost capacity by 60 per cent is already underway.

Hydro will also upgrade B.C’s dams and generating facilities to make them safer and more reliable and energy efficient.

“Through BC Hydro’s 3,000-megawatt call for power we will help streamline the process,” said Eby, who told the crowd of about 900 about a new one-window application and approval process to free up electricity faster for in-demand industries.

Demand for power is expected to spike by 15 per cent over the next six years.

Despite low river levels and an extended drought, Eby said BC Hydro was able to send electricity to grids in Alberta and Washington state which were depleted by high demand during the extended cold snap of the past week.

He also said BC Hydro has applied for a rate increase that’s below the rate of inflation for a sixth consecutive year, making hydro more affordable for consumers.

Eby also pointed to a stable mining sector that has attracted more than $15 billion in mineral investment in the seven years since the NDP formed the government.