Manitoba Hydro today released the location of its preliminary preferred route for the Bipole III transmission line, following three rounds of public consultation and public feedback on three proposed alternative routes.
“We believe that we have selected the route with the least impact on the environment and on the communities and residents along the proposed path of the transmission line,” said Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Bob Brennan. “We will again be seeking public input into this preliminary preferred route over the next several months before a final route is submitted as part of our Environmental Impact Statement for regulatory approval.”
The project involves the construction of a new 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVdc) transmission line on a right-of-way that is 66 metres wide, along with new converter stations, one in the north and another at the southern receiving end. The project is required to improve system reliability, to decrease dependency on one southern converter facility and to provide additional capacity for delivery of existing and proposed hydroelectric generation to southern markets. Under the proposed preferred route, the new line would be 1 364 kilometres in length.
The project schedule calls for the Environmental Impact Statement to be submitted for regulatory review by mid 2011, construction to get under way in 2012 with an in-service date for the project of 2017.
In September, Manitoba Hydro will begin a series of meetings with municipalities and Aboriginal groups and stakeholders, along with a number of public open houses, to present information concerning the preferred route and to obtain public feedback. In addition, a series of Landowner Information Centres is being scheduled for landowners whose property may be affected by the project. The information centres will provide an opportunity for landowners to discuss the project with Hydro staff and obtain more detailed information. Manitoba Hydro will provide a fair and equitable compensation package for landowners affected by the preferred right-of-way. Manitoba Hydro will also seek to minimize impacts on agricultural land, including avoiding diagonal cuts across properties.
The preferred route being presented has the advantage of having the least impact on agricultural land among the three alternatives presented at public meetings in 2009. In addition, the route avoids National and Provincial Parks, and First Nation reserve lands.
Manitoba Hydro has developed a Community Development Initiative (CDI), which will provide an annual benefit to communities in the vicinity of the Bipole III facilities. The CDI will provide support for development projects which will benefit broad segments of the eligible communities. The expected value of the CDI is estimated at $5M per year over 10 years. Further information about the CDI will be available during Round Four meetings.
“We encourage those with an interest in the project to continue to provide input so that the proposed route can be finalized in a way that minimizes impacts and is the best route that can be designed,” said Mr. Brennan.
For more information, visit www.hydro.mb.ca/bipole3.
