BC Hydro connects remote community of Iskut to power grid

subscribe

VANCOUVER — The remote, northern community of Iskut is now connected to BC Hydro’s clean power grid, seven months ahead of schedule. Located 430 kilometres north of Terrace, Iskut is primarily a First Nations community that has, until now, relied on diesel generation for electricity.

“This is a significant milestone in the ongoing development of British Columbia’s electricity system,” said Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines. “Connecting Iskut to the grid will provide a clean, reliable supply of power to the community. It’s also part of a larger project that will play an important role in the economic development of northwest B.C. by delivering power to a growing region.”

The connection was constructed thanks to the completion of the Northwest Transmission Line NTL this past summer. NTL received a capital contribution from the federal Green Energy Fund, with the condition that BC Hydro connect Iskut to its grid within a year of the NTL coming into service. This interconnection required an additional extension from the NTL – the new Iskut Extension transmission line.

“As we strive to meet a growing demand for electricity, BC Hydro makes ongoing investments that enable cost-effective, clean power to be delivered to our customers across the province,” said Greg Reimer, executive vice-president, Transmission & Distribution, BC Hydro. “We are very pleased to add the community of Iskut to BC Hydro’s customer base. Connecting Iskut to the grid seven months early and reducing their reliance on diesel generation will eliminate about 2,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.”

The generator currently supplying power to Iskut is scheduled for removal in 2016, at a date to be determined in consultation with the Village of Iskut. Until then, it will serve as back-up supply.

Related News

tehran power plant

Iran turning thermal power plants to combined cycle to save energy

TEHRAN - Iran has turned six percent of its thermal power plans into combined cycle plants in order to reduce greenhouse gases and save energy, IRNA reported, quoting an energy official.

According to the MAPNA Group’s Managing Director Abbas Aliabadi, so far 27 thermal power plants have been converted to combined-cycle ones.

“The conversion of a thermal power plant to a combined cycle one takes about one to two years, however, it is possible for us to convert all the country’s thermal power plants into combined cycle plants over a five-year period.

Currently, a total of 478 thermal power plants are operating throughout…

READ MORE
offshore wind power

BloombergNEF: World offshore wind costs 'drop 32% per cent'

READ MORE

manitoba hydro building

Manitoba Hydro seeks unpaid days off to trim costs during pandemic

READ MORE

scotter ban

Parisians vote to ban rental e-scooters from French capital by huge margin

READ MORE

warsaw climate change

What to know about the big climate change meeting in Katowice, Poland

READ MORE