VICTORIA - British Columbia's northeast is getting an electricity boost to help power natural gas expansion in the Peace River region and fight global warming.
The federal government and Crown-owned BC Hydro have announced a project to expand transmission lines to meet the area's growing industrial and development demands.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi says the government and BC Hydro will expand the Peace area's existing transmission infrastructure by building two parallel 230-kilovolt power lines running from the Site C dam near Fort St. John to an area east of Chetwynd.
The power line project is estimated to cost $289 million, with the federal government contributing $83.6 million and BC Hydro, $205.4 million.
B.C. Premier John Horgan and Sohi say the project will help industry move to clean, renewable energy, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Chris O'Riley, BC Hydro's president and chief operating officer, says the gas industry is the primary driver for electricity demand in the area and the project will provide industrial users with clean energy.
