Lekstrom Says Power Line a Go With or Without Private Sector Contributions

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 03:39 PM

Prince George, B.C. – The Provincial Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, Blair Lekstrom, won’t say exactly how much the B.C. government is going to put towards the construction of the Highway 37 Transmission Line.

“We have said that if we got a commitment from the Federal Government the line would proceed. We have that commitment so the line will go ahead.”

Lekstrom told Opinion 250 the province still plans to talk with private investors to see if they will contribute to the estimated $404 million dollar cost of the line. Those talks will include several independent power producers who had their own business plans, but no access to the B.C. Hydro grid to sell the power they produce. The construction of the line will change that.

Originally, the Province had agreed to put in $250 million dollars and the balance would have to be paid by the private sector.

Lekstrom says he will share the Federal Government’s optimism that the construction of the line can start next spring, but says with or without support from the private sector, the line is going ahead “We said we were going to do it if the Federal Government made a commitment, so what I’m telling you is, this project is a go.”

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 03:39 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on September 16 2009 3:59 PM

So Mr.Lekstrom,will your government now be more proactive and help some of these potential new mines to get past some of the hurdles that government has created?
In case you haven't noticed,we really need the work!

Posted by: Palopu on September 17 2009 10:18 PM

Now that Private Business is off the hook and the cost of the transmission lines will be paid for by our tax dollars, we can once again feel good about subsidizing big business. Throw in the tax savings from the GST and eventually the HST and the cost of doing business in BC is very affordable.

The question is. Where will the power come from that these lines are being built for????

There will be some surplus power from the Mines own generating plans, however I suspect that most of the power will be supplied FROM******HERE IT COMES*****KITIMAT.

Does this mean that somewhere down the road a decision will be made to generate more electricity at Kemano, and downsize or shut down the smelter???? Is that a possibility. Are we going to generate some new jobs at the mines etc; on Highway 37 at the expense of jobs at Kitimat.

Dont forget that you are still dealing with the Campbell Government whom you have accused of being bald faced liars for the past three months. Do you think that the Chameleon has changed its strips.

When was the last time you heard anything about the new ingot plant at Kitimat??? Since Rio Tinto bought out Alcan, do you think this project is still a go, or is the plan going to be power generation only???