BC Hydro announced the completion of the $32 million Buckley Bay substation which will help meet the growing electricity needs of the Comox Valley. This important infrastructure investment will provide reliable power to help enable economic growth and residential development.
"BC Hydro is investing about $2 billion a year in B.C.'s electricity system to ensure reliable power for the province's growing electricity demand," said Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines. "Electricity is the backbone of our economy and BC Hydro needs to ensure safe, reliable power is there when businesses and industry need it. At the same time, we're find new ways to use power in our homes. All of these electronics need power."
"We are all interested in power reliability and this new substation, located much closer to the southern Comox Valley community, and near Denman and Hornby Islands, will provide a more robust electrical system. A third substation in our Valley gives us more flexibility," said Don McRae, Comox Valley MLA. "An added benefit of this project is that it has created local jobs. When contractor Houle Electric was doing the civil and electrical work, 30 people were working on this project, and all of them were from Vancouver Island."
Planning for a new substation to serve the region began in 2008. Construction began in 2012. The project involved the construction of a new outdoor substation next to existing transmission lines located beside Highway 19. There was an additional $11.5 million investment to connect the substation to the local electricity distribution system.
"We worked hard to find the right location for this substation. It's away from residential areas and generally out of sight, out of mind. However, it's located right off our transmission line corridor and will provide safe, reliable power that will serve this community for many decades," said David Lebeter, vice-president, Field Operations, BC Hydro. "Our staff and contractors did a good job in planning and building this important component of our infrastructure."
Local contractors and workers were involved in the project, including companies like Tower Fence Products Ltd and Lafarge Courtenay. About 400 Vancouver Island companies are currently involved in helping BC Hydro with capital project work across the province.
"We were pleased to see local people and companies worked on this project," said Kevin East, Board Chair of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. "Now that it's finished, it opens up the potential for more economic growth. The Comox Valley is open for business."
With construction complete and the substation in-service, BC Hydro will integrate the substation into the local power grid in time for the fall storm season and peak winter electricity demands.
Over the next 10 years, BC Hydro will invest about $2 billion into the electricity system on Vancouver Island. These projects are expected to generate a total combined GDP of $930 million and create 9,300 person-years of employment. Some examples of capital projects on Vancouver Island currently underway or nearing completion include:
- John Hart generating station replacement project in Campbell River (about $1 billion);
- construction of the new Campbell River substation ($29.8 million);
- upgrade of the Puntledge River Water Gauges and Siren System ($8 million);
- upgrade of the Horsey substation in Victoria ($48 million); and
- construction of the South Wellington substation in Nanaimo ($28.5 million).
