B.C. Hydro says they are anticipating an increase in energy demand in the northwest in the coming years due to industrial development. 

On Feb. 15, B.C. Hydro released an Expression of Interest (EOI) for current or potential industrial partners between Prince George and Prince Rupert to gauge the need for electrical transmission infrastructure. 

Multiple industry developments are ongoing in the area including liquefied natural gas projects like Cedar LNG  and LNG Canada, as well as the Blackwater Gold Mine southwest of Burns Lake. 

Despite the company’s ongoing capacitor installation project — which is seeing capacitor stations being constructed near Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, and Terrace — Hydro has already reserved around $3 billion for the potential development of new energy infrastructure.

The EOI is available until April 11.

Listen to the CFNR story with Mike Kellett below: