welcome to the BC Hydro community open house Dawson Creek/ Chetwynd Area Transmission ProjecT Open House
welcome Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission Project (DCAT) The purpose of this open house is to: Provide information about the DCAT project Answer your questions Get your input on the project and on the transmission line routing options Members of the project team are here to provide information and answer your questions. Please be sure to visit the displays and talk with us. Your opinions are important to us. Please take a few minutes to fill out a comment form before you leave tonight.
BC Hydro s TRANSMISSION SYSTEM Electricity is moved throughout the province via an interconnected grid of: Over 18,000 kilometres of transmission lines 100,000 wood poles 22,000 steel towers 292 substations 2 control centres
PEACE AREA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM A 230 kv line from GM Shrum generating station provides electricity to several substations east of Chetwynd. Dawson Creek Substation receives electricity from two 138 kv transmission lines. Bear Mountain Terminal connects Bear Mountain Wind Farm to the 138 kv system and also supplies electricity to 138 kv transmission customers.
the need Over the next 10 years, the annual rate of load growth in the South Peace is expected to be 10 times greater than for the BC Hydro system as a whole. This demand is primarily driven by industrial developments. Developers for many planned new oil and gas facilities would like to connect to the electricity grid. The Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission (DCAT) Project is one of BC Hydro s initiatives to meet the growing need for electricity in the South Peace area.
DCAT PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed DCAT Project includes: A new substation (Sundance) to be located about 19 km east of Chetwynd, near Highway 97 A new 230 kilovolt (kv) double circuit transmission line, approximately 60 km long, from Sundance Substation to Bear Mountain Terminal (BMT) Expansion of BMT and Dawson Creek Substation (DAW) A new 230 kv double circuit line approximately 12 km long, between BMT and DAW DCAT will double the transmission system capacity in the area. Planned in-service date for DCAT is Fall 2013.
DAWSON CREEK/CHETWYND AREA TRANSMISSION PROJECT PRELIMINARY MAP EXISTING 500KV TRANSMISSION LINES EXISTING 230KV TRANSMISSION LINES EXISTING 138KV TRANSMISSION LINES GENERAL LOCATION, PROPOSED NEW 230KV TRANSMISSION LINE PROPOSED NEW STATION EXISTING SUBSTATION HYDRO GENERATING STATION BRITISH COLUMBIA Hwy 97 Hudson s Hope Hwy 29 Fort St.John Taylor Substation GM Shrum Sundance Station Tembec, Chetwynd Operations Substation (Private) Dawson Creek Substation ALBERTA Chetwynd Hwy 97 Dawson Creek Hwy 97 Chetwynd Substation Sukunka Switching Station Bear Mountain Terminal Hwy 2 Hwy 29 30 KM 10 MI A11-032
substations Sundance Substation The new Sundance Substation will be located on Crown Land It will tie into the existing 230 kv and 138 kv transmission systems, extending the 230 kv system to Dawson Creek Bear Mountain Terminal Bear Mountain Terminal will be expanded into a full 230 kv to 138 kv substation Dawson Creek Substation Dawson Creek Substation will be expanded All expansion will be on BC Hydro-owned land
DCAT transmission LINE ROUTING Several routing options were developed for the DCAT project, then evaluated using criteria such as: Engineering considerations (for example, types of poles that would need to be used) Construction considerations (such as terrain and soil stability) Access requirements for construction and maintenance Potential impacts on private properties and First Nations Potential impacts on wildlife and riparian habitat Line length and cost In planning the DCAT route, we divided the line into western, central and eastern segments. A proposed reference route the option that best meets our evaluation criteria at this time was then determined for each segment.
PROPOSED CENTRAL SEGMENT REFERENCE ROUTE Three routing options were evaluated. The proposed reference route for the Central segment is Option C1. It largely follows the existing 138 kilovolt (kv) transmission line right-of-way (ROW), primarily through privately held lands. Our evaluation showed: While all three options impact private properties, Option C1 impacts the highest number Environmental impacts expected to be highest for Option C3 New access requirements would be highest for C3 At 43 km, C1 is shorter than C2 (56 km) and C3 (48 km) Construction costs for C1 are estimated to be $15 20 million less than C3 and $20 25 million less than C2 BC Hydro is still evaluating sub-options to C1, to route away from homes, where possible, and from pipeline infrastructure. Want more information? Pick up a copy of our Central segment map and evaluation summary from the sign-in table and have a conversation with the project team staff.
PROPOSED western SEGMENT REFERENCE ROUTE Two routing options were evaluated. The proposed reference route for the Western segment is Option W1. It runs northeast of the proposed Sundance Substation, paralleling the existing 230 kv transmission line, then turns directly east just before Tembec mill. Our evaluation showed: Both Option W1 and W2 are similar in length (about 13 km) Both have similar access requirements for construction and maintenance Both cross a similar number of private properties Environmental impacts are minimal for both options Construction costs for W1 are estimated at about $4 5 million less than W2 because it is a straighter route Want more information? Pick up a copy of our Western segment map and evaluation summary from the sign-in table and have a conversation with the project team staff.
PROPOSED eastern SEGMENT REFERENCE ROUTE Three options were evaluated. The proposed reference route for the Eastern segment is Option E1. It heads west from Dawson Creek Substation, parallels the existing railway corridor, then turns south to Bear Mountain Terminal. Our evaluation showed: Route length similar for all three options (approximately 12 to 14km) Environmental impacts minimal for all three options E1 impacts fewer private properties E1 also has the lowest estimated construction cost; $2 3 million less than Option E2 and $4 5 million less than Option E3 At this time, BC Hydro is still evaluating the sub-option of building north or south of the railway corridor. Want more information? Pick up a copy of our eastern segment map and evaluation summary from the sign-in table, and have a conversation with the project team staff.
STRUCTURES AND RIGHT OF WAY DCAT will be a double circuit 230 kv transmission line. The steel structures used will be taller than the existing 138 kv transmission structures. Because the structures are taller, the length of conductor (span) between structures can be much longer. This means that fewer structures are needed. Davit arm structures are used in a wider right-of-way. Compact structures are used in areas where the right-of-way needs to be as narrow as possible.
environment DCAT does not trigger assessment under the BC Environmental Assessment Act. At this time, it does not appear to trigger assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Environmental studies are still an important part of planning the project. The following types of studies have been undertaken: Archaeology (non-invasive assessment) Fisheries and aquatics Wildlife habitat and species surveys Vegetation resources, rare plant and ecological community surveys Socio-economic Land use The findings will help us take all practical measures to avoid or minimize impacts in routing and constructing DCAT.
regulatory approvals BC Hydro will require approval for the DCAT project from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). The BCUC is an independent agency of the Provincial government and regulates BC Hydro, among other Crown corporations and companies. BC Hydro will apply to the BCUC in Spring 2011 for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for DCAT. The BCUC will examine: The need and justification for the project The alternatives examined The costs to construct and maintain DCAT A number of socio-economic and nonfinancial factors For more information on the BCUC and the CPCN process, please visit the BCUC website at: www.bcuc.com
ongoing TRANSMISSION LINE MAINTENANCE WORK Until the DCAT project is completed in Fall 2013, it is important to ensure that the existing 138 kv transmission circuits in your area are operating as reliably as possible. For this reason, BC Hydro will be undertaking necessary vegetation and pole/line maintenance on the 138 kv circuit until DCAT is fully commissioned and in service. If maintenance work is required on private property, BC Hydro staff or its contractors will make reasonable efforts to contact the owner in advance.
draft schedule Milestone First Nations and Public Consultation Date (subject to change) Spring 2010 - ongoing Environmental study work Summer Fall 2010 Submit application for CPCN Spring 2011 CPCN process Spring 2011 - Spring 2012 Right-of-way/land acquisition 2011 Construction Spring 2012 - Summer 2013 In-service Fall 2013
THANK YOU FOR COMING Your feedback will be considered as we continue to plan the project. Please take a moment to fill out a comment form. If you would like to receive updates on the DCAT project, please include your contact information on your comment form. Project consultation is ongoing. You can provide input by contacting our Stakeholder Relations Department: Phone: 604 623 4472 Toll free: 1 866 647 3334 Fax: 604 623 3937 Email: stakeholderengagement@bchydro.com