British Columbia investing US$4.3bn in hydroelectric energy infrastructure

A hydro-electric facility in British Columbia, Canada. (Image: Adobe Stock)

The investments will take place mostly in the British Columbia Southern Interior region, a federal electoral district that includes the cities of Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. The southern-most edge of the region border’s the US State of Washington.

Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro, said environmental factors were a driving force to upgrade what he called ‘aged’ energy infrastructure in the region.

“In regions like the Southern Interior, we are investing billions of dollars to significantly upgrade our generating facilities and transmission lines to improve dam safety, replace aging or end-of-life equipment and reduce the risk of extended outages due to wildfires,” said O’Riley.

“These investments, along with upgrades to our substations, and underground and overhead distribution infrastructure, will ensure BC Hydro can continue to provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity British Columbians rely on.”

BC Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation and energy provider, which is owned by the British Columbia (BC) government and its people. It reports to the BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLCI)

BC Hydro infrastructure plans to create thousands of construction jobs

A concrete dam and spillway in British Columbia, Canada. (Image: Adobe Stock)

Josie Osborne, British Columbia Minister of EMLCI, said the capital investment will provide a boost to the region’s construction industry.

“Throughout the Southern Interior and in communities across BC, these construction projects will create thousands of good jobs over the next decade and ensure that people have access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity, when they need it and where they need it,” said Osborne.

According to the BC EMLCI, the Southern Interior work is just a portion of the overall hydroelectric investment. The province announced earlier this year that BC Hydro’s updated ten-Year Capital Plan seeks to spend $26 billion in regional and community infrastructure investments throughout BC. The agency said it is a 50% increase in investments over its previous capital plan.

“These new construction projects are forecasted to support 10,500 to 12,500 jobs on average annually, and will increase and maintain BC Hydro’s capital investments as major projects… are completed,” said the EMLCI department.

BC Hydro’s largest projects 

The largest basket of projects – valued at about $2.8 billion – is scheduled for regional dam safety improvements, equipment refurbishments, replacement and improvements to energy infrastructure along the Bridge River.

Another $869 million is allocated for improvements to La Joie damn facility (which is also located on the Bridge River).

Approximately $326 million will be spent on building new transmission connections and lines, as well as raising the height of existing lines between Bridge River Terminal station and Kelly Lake substation.