Prince George will be the launch point for the first phase of a major BC Hydro transmission project aimed at increasing electricity capacity across northern British Columbia.
The North Coast Transmission Line project will include the construction of new high-voltage transmission lines and upgrades to existing infrastructure between Prince George and Terrace.
The work is expected to support industrial growth in sectors such as liquefied natural gas, mining, hydrogen and technology, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by enabling customers to switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity, BC Hydro states.
The first phase will involve a 170-kilometre, 500-kilovolt transmission line running from Williston Substation near Prince George to the Glenannan Substation. It is scheduled to be operational by the fall of 2030. A second phase will extend the line another 275 kilometres to Terrace by 2032.
The utility is also proposing upgrades to the existing 500 kV transmission corridor between Prince George and Terrace, including thermal enhancements to increase capacity and the installation of anti-cascading towers, which are designed to prevent widespread outages in the event of a tower failure.
At the same time, BC Hydro is building three new capacitor stations along the existing line to further boost capacity. That work, called the Prince George to Terrace Capacitors Project, is expected to be completed by 2028.
The transmission expansion is being developed in partnership with area First Nations, with BC Hydro saying it is exploring co-ownership models and joint environmental review processes as part of its reconciliation efforts.
As industrial demand in the North Coast region grows, the utility says further infrastructure may be required beyond Terrace, including new lines toward Prince Rupert and Kitimat.
