Amazing how these sleezy polititions squeeze every ounce of oportunism out of a project. This power line has been announced, 4, 6, maybee 10 times, and still no shovel in the ground. It's a wonder that any thing ever gets done in this province. I wish for common sense to prevail in 2011. Ya Right!

I have to agree! Actually I gave it no more thought and assumed that it was already nearing completion! Is it above the ground, a row of towers with some cables type of standard power line?

It's been done before, guys!

How many years of expensive studies and reviews are required for something as standard as this thing?

Good thing our recent ancestors did not diddle and procrastinate as much as this - we would be still making our toasts over a camp fire!

It never fails to amaze me how they always say this power line will reduce use of diesel generated power in the region, or that the northern communities will not have to depend on diesel power with the construction of this line.

Everyone who has ever travelled this area would know that there's not one community along this line. Good or bad, this power line is being built solely for the mines in the are.

I also have to question where the additional power is to come from, as we're constantly being told that we're a net importer of power, and to be "power smart".

my2bits. The question of where the power will come from is a GOOD question.

Lets consider the fact that Alcan won a court case a few years ago that allows them to sell surplus power, and that it does not have to be used in the area of their smelters. Then look at the fact that Alcan plans to build a new smelter in Kitimat that will significantly reduce the amount of power needed from their Kemano Power Plant to produce the same or more tons of aluminum, and at the same time allow them to reduce manpower by about 400 emloyees. This is addition to the employees who have already been laid off because of the closure of one or two pot lines which also produced surplus power and what do we have.

1. Surplus power sold to Hydro and then used for the mines, and business that would locate along highway 37. Alcan (Rio Tinto) stands to make huge profits on the sale of surplus power.

2. A new plant that will be much more efficient and less labour intensive, that well generate huge profits

This has to be part of the scenario, because as you say, we supposedly have a shortage of power in the Province.

Once they start to upgrade the power lines from Kitimat to Terrace, Hazelton, if they havent already done so, we will have a clearer understanding as to whats going on.

Have a nice day.

Just a thought. There seems to be a lot of stalling for building the second line up hwy 37. When the existing line trom Terrace to Stewart was built, it was built, no mucking around after the decision was made. That line runs from Terrace to Meziadin then into Stewart. The portion of that line from Terrace to Meziadin could be upgraded, no new right of way would be required south of Meziadin.

Now here is where my thought comes in, is there secret discussions between Alaska, BC and the Feds for a connection. Alaska has in the past expressed interest in an interconnection as they have a lot of potental hydro power they could send south.

This would involve a major new right of way and upgrades all the way to PG. It just seems there are a lot of delays for no real reason, unless there is an Alaskian interest.

One more question, does anyone know at what rate B.C. Hydro will sell power to the mines? Will it be less than what we will be paying?

Get it done!
Considering it costs less that the new roof on B.C.place,it should have already been approved and in progress!
Something stinks with this proposal and the length of time it is taking for approval,but that comes as no suprise at all.
Personally,I am expecting the B.C. government to stall it even further when the report is handed over to them!
Seems they never wanted to do it in the first place.
Mind you...they do have an image issue happening right now...
They don't need anymore bad PR,which is what they will get if this doesn't happen damn soon!

Good one Palopu!
"...we supposedly have a shortage of power in the province"...key word here being "supposedly"!

Alcan has sold their surplus power for about as long as they have been in business, nothing new there. Right now power system stability restricts them to 300 MW's of export power. As Palopu says, if the line out of Kitimat to the Skeena substation in Terrace is upgraded or twined then they could increase their export.

The single line transmission circuit from terrace to PG could still impose some stability issues.

With the NTL terminus set to be at Bob Quinn Lake, the line is nearly to the Tahltan Community of Iskut. With an extension of that line to the proposed Red Chris mine, the Iskut community is merely a stone's throw away from an interconnection.

Iskut has been on diesel generation and such a interconnection would put them in the enviable position of being able to use BC Hydro's commercial rates for a timber mill and other potential commercial uses of electricity. I'm sure that the people living there would enjoy having similar beneficial employment and economics akin to what most of the province's citizens today enjoy.