S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 26 NO. 40
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Power plan revealed By JOSH MASSEY BC Hydro says it's going to replace its aging 287kv transmission line between Terrace and Kitimat with at least one and possibly two lines of the same size. In a presentation to Terrace city council today, BC Hydro officials said the project replaces one which would have featured a new 500kv line between Prince George and Terrace and two 500kv lines between Terrace and Kitimat. But that plan, which was based on BC Hydro being called upon to supply large amounts of power to potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants at Kitimat, was abandoned last year because the plants are now to use natural gas to produce the power to super cool natural gas into liquid form for export overseas. BC Hydro officials say the existing 287kv line, built in the early 1970s, from its Skeena Substation, located south of Terrace, to Kitimat is well past its prime and no longer viable to maintain. The same is true for the provincial crown corporation's 287kv line from its Minette Substation to the Rio Tinto Alcan smelter and this line will be replaced as well. “Based on the anticipated new industrial customer connections in the Kitimat area and the associated load growth, a 287 kV circuit will be capable of supplying the necessary power. There is no identified need to
build a 500 kV line, however, we are continuing to study the load growth in the area,” reads a BC Hydro position paper being presented to city council. And having two 287kv lines sharing the power load between Terrace and Kitimat will increase reliability should something happen to one of them. “BC Hydro will be assessing whether this enhanced reliability is required,” the BC Hydro document continues and has pegged this summer to reach a decision. The crown corporation also says it wants the project finished by late 2018 or early 2019, ahead of when planned LNG plants in Kitimat are expected to open. The new plan to build at least one new line does away with an earlier proposition to upgrade the existing 287kv line. “Our original plan was to upgrade the line so it could carry more power, as a short-term measure, while we decided on options for replacement. We’ve now decided to bypass that step,” said Lesley Wood from BC Hydro. In addition to deciding how many lines to build, BC Hydro has to decide the route or routes to be taken. It can parallel the existing line's route down the east side of the valley between Terrace and Kitimat or carve out a new route on the west side of the valley. BC Hydro officials say they'll be speaking with local governments, First Nations and other affected parties.
Margaret Speirs PHOTO
■■ Lucky to be alive lynne christiansen relaxes at home with her Pomeranian cross Winnie, who is recovering after a bigger dog attacked her early last week while the pair were going for a walk on the south side. To read about what happened, see the story on page 10.
Man bequeaths thousands to hospitals A FRIENDSHIP forged from a tragedy more than 40 years ago took on a more official form late last year with a presentation of a $90,000 cheque to the REM Lee Hospital Foundation. The presentation was made by Max Muff acting as the executor to the estate of longtime friend Walter Mantel, who passed away April 15, 2012.
Muff first met Mantel in 1968 when a hunting partner of Muff's went missing in the Bornite Mountain area. Mantel, a mountain climber, was one of those who came out to search for the missing partner. “We never did find him,” said Muff of his partner. “But that's where I met Walter and that started the friendship.”
That friendship was based on a mutual love of the area and its mountains. “We went all over the mountains around Terrace,” said Muff. Their accomplishments included climbing the highest peak of the Seven Sisters Mountain range in the early 1970s. An accomplished photographer, Mantel always carried a camera,
Muff added. Born in Germany, Mantel came to Canada in the late 1950s and became a citizen in 1964. His last job before retirement was that of a draughtsman at Twin River Timber. Mantel’s wife predeceased him and the couple had no children. The cheque presentation was made to REM Lee Hospital Foun-
dation representatives Dec. 23, 2013 at Mills Memorial Hospital. The money, $90,852.04, will be used for foundation purchases of medical equipment, said foundation representative Eileen Kennedy. “We’ll be announcing something specific in the new year,” she said.
Cont’d Page A16
Happy birthday
Going strong
Midget madness
City freeman celebrates 90 years with friends and family and two parties \COMMUNITY A17
All Nations Centre got its start from a soup kitchen five years ago \NEWS A5
The Terrace Totem Ford Midget Reps outscore their competition big time \SPORTS A26