Underground substation plan abandoned
B.C. Hydro will not go ahead with two planned underground substations in downtown Vancouver, but will go back to the drawing board after the city said the process was too rushed.
“We recently learned that, in exchange for the rights to build a substation underneath Emery Barnes Park, similar to our existing substation lease at Cathedral Square, the City of Vancouver has asked B.C. Hydro to pay a price based on what it would cost to purchase the land outright,” Jessica McDonald, president and CEO of B.C. Hydro, said in a statement.
“This shift makes the extra costs of building underground prohibitive.
“We also learned that the city will not be making a decision about whether or not (the project) could move forward for many more months. While we respect their processes and views in reaching this decision, this means that our proposal is no longer possible.”
The Vancouver school and park boards had planned to reach decisions on whether to OK the project by the end of March.
In mid-January, B.C. Hydro proposed building substations under Emery Park in Yaletown and Nelson Park next to Lord Roberts Annex in the West End.
In exchange it offered money for a new annex and daycare spaces, a school in Coal Harbour and upgrades to parks.
The corporation said it was in a hurry because projections show downtown Vancouver facing brownouts, or even blackouts, in the future without the new substations.
It also felt building underground was cheaper and a more efficient use of land than buying expensive real estate.
And B.C. Hydro made it clear: It is not a question of if the substations will be built, but where.
Critics felt the five-week consultation process was too rushed and were not reassured by B.C. Hydro’s claims that the substations would be safe, especially the one next to the school.
B.C. Hydro responded that if the underground project doesn’t go ahead, it must start the laborious and time-consuming task of assembling above-ground real estate now.
As for safety concerns, B.C. Hydro said it would bury cables deeper and put protective coverings over them.
“We always knew the timelines and partnerships required to make this idea work were ambitious, but at a time when land is scarce and new community facilities and amenities are needed, we knew we owed it to the residents of Vancouver to explore new public partnerships to make better use of available land and enable a more efficient use of public funds,” Mc- Donald said.
“While we’re disappointed, we will keep listening and looking for ideas as we make new decisions on above ground substation options in the downtown core to support the growing demand for energy in Vancouver.”