Powerline route ignores E&N corridor potential

By Dunc MALCOLM
Goldstream News Gazette
Nov 09 2005

A presentation concerning a proposed underground power transmission line produced sparks at the Nov. 1 council meeting in View Royal.

Sea Breeze Power Corporation, a Vancouver-based company, informed council of the proposed route for the underground and underwater transmission cable that will carry power from its Knob Hill wind farm, through View Royal to McCauley Point and on to Port Angeles, Wash.

Mike Wise, the project manager for the Juan de Fuca transmission cable, briefed council on the Sea Breeze's upcoming application to the National Energy Board.

Wise said he hopes the application will be heard by next spring and construction can begin in t hefallof2006.

According to Wise, although the application has to include alternative routes for the underground cable, the preferred route would see the cable running from the Pike Lake sub-station and along the hydro right-of-way between Thetis Lake and Francis King regional parks. The route would split into two lines at Creed Road with each line running to a single line along Old Island Highway, to Craigflower Road and south on Lampson Street.

The alternatives included a line through Thetis Lake Park and along Highland Road and a route following Munn's Road. There were no alternative routes put forward for the Old Island Highway section of the route.

Council had expected that Sea Breeze would discuss various alternatives with them prior to settling on a preferred route.

Indeed, it was the lack of alternatives and the logic behind Sea Breeze's preferred route that disturbed council the most. Coun. John Rogers asked pointedly why the E&N rail right-of-way was not included in the alternative routes to be presented to the federal government.

Wise stated that for the section of line north of Old Island Highway, Sea Breeze excluded the Munn's Road and Thetis Lake Park alternatives after identifying problems associated with both routes. He said the number of trees in Thetis and the park's topography made it unsuitable for an underground cable and that the Munn's Road route was too windy and took the line too close to residences to allow for safe.

"Like the Old Island Highway," responded Rogers. "If traffic is a consideration, then go along the E&N right-of-way," he added. Council also expressed concerns over the possible need to relocate existing utilities on Old Island Highway to accommodate the Sea Breeze cable and who would cover the cost.

"That could be negotiated," replied Wise.

The proposed line would cross the Juan de Fuca Strait and come ashore in Port Angeles, Wash. It would run beneath city streets and tie into the Bonneville power station - about a mile inland.

According to Scott McLain, Director of Public Works and Power Systems for Port Angeles, although no formal application has been made by Sea Breeze, any costs stemming from the city having to temporarily move or permanently relocate any utilities will be the responsibility of Sea Breeze. "It is an absolute condition of the license to use the public right-of-way," explained McLain.

In referring to the map showing the cable's proposed route along city streets, View Royal Mayor Graham Hill stated emphatically, "The town would like to see that red line gone."

Added Rogers, "To put it another way, we want to see the E&N back on as an alternative (to Sea Breeze's application before the NRB)."