BC Hydro has entered into talks with renewable energy producers to build a new transmission line to serve the village of McBride.
Located in the Robson Valley, 200 kilometres east of Prince George, McBride gets its electricity from an 85-kilometre distribution line originating in Valemount.
The line has reached capacity and the region experiences frequent outages, according to BC Hydro, which is committing $50 million to upgrade the Valemount substation.
Independent power producers would be expected to fund the cost of a new line, as well as a new substation, BC Hydro said in a press release.
BC Hydro will negotiate electricity purchase agreements with independent power producers.
"The need for additional capacity and service reliability has been a significant issue for residents and industry alike," said Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George.
"A new transmission line will help create jobs, secure power and act as a badly needed catalyst for economic development in the Robson Valley."
