Powerline plan breezes ahead

By Vern Faulkner
Esquimalt News
Nov 15 2006

The backers of an underground power line set to run through Esquimalt and View Royal have cleared the last political obstacle.

On Nov. 2, the federal government acknowledged National Energy Board approval for the project, which aims to route a 550W direct-current connector from Thetis Lake, through View Royal and Esquimalt, then under the ocean to the United States.

The next step, said Monique Stevenson, the coordinator of consultation and permitting with Sea Breeze Power Corp., is the creation of a detailed route and traffic-management plan.

"We have to work on a traffic management plan, and work with the municipality," she said, noting the plan should be ready for public input sometime in early 2007.

The only remaining obstacle that could halt the project lies south of the border: the plan has yet to receive blessing from U.S. regulatory bodies.

U.S. clearances will also be tackled in the new year, Stevenson said.

Municipal officials are currently negotiating right-of-way clearance and conditions with Sea Breeze.

The power line will run under the surface of Craigflower Road and Lampson Street in Esquimalt.

Staff with Esquimalt have in the past expressed hope that power line construction would coincide with the rebuilding of Craigflower Road.

Work on Craigflower Road is set to begin n extyear.

Residents in the Craigflower Road area can see detailed designs for that plan at an open house set to run Wed. Nov. 15 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Gorge Vale Golf Club.