We need a long term solution for our community.

Our community needs a reliable power source and all indications are that this comes with being part of a loop.  A group of community stakeholders including local government, (Municipal and Rural Golden) have been advocating that BCTC ensure that they look at all options.   

With the technical support of our local Advisory Committee we have been strong in our questioning to ensure that BCTC has explored all options; including coming from Revelstoke via the CP Rail Right of Way or Trans Canada Highway, coming from Mica via the Kinbasket Reservoir and exploring other power sources that may meet the communitys’ electrical demand needs; within the timeframe.   We have also asked for detailed information in regards to the specifics of the timeframe and BC Hydro Power projections for our community.   

BCTC’s present proposal does create a loop, albeit with a 230kV line on one leg and a 69kV line on the other leg; remembering that they are both coming from the same source.  One of the questions still outstanding is: Would a line from the north (Mica - Revelstoke) provide better redundancy than two lines from the south, again, from the same source; recognizing that the line south of Invermere is presently served by one 230kV and one 69kV line?

There have been issues raised by others in regards to the health risks associated with running a 69kV line through a residential area (from the Kicking Horse substation to the Golden substation), the need to expand the Golden Substation and the increased voltage at that site, along with the potential loss of the existing ‘old hydro building’ as a home for Golden and District Search and Rescue.   These are all issues that will continue to be looked at, discussed and resolutions found.

Our community needs the most reliable power source that we can get and I believe all parties, including BCTC, are working towards that outcome.