NW CONNECTIONS
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Clean energy drives economy forward By BILL BENNETT
A
ccess to affordable, reliable and clean energy is critical to attracting investment and capitalizing on the potential of our natural resources in British Columbia. BC Hydro is investing $1.7 billion per year in our electricity system to make sure we have power where and when it’s needed to support economic growth. The Northwest, with its world class mineral deposits, has unparalleled economic potential that will be realized with the completion of the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL). The 287 kilovolt, 340 kilometre line runs from the Skeena Substation in Terrace to Bob Quinn Lake and will open • up the Northwest to as much as $15 billion• in mining investment – creating up to 10,000 • jobs and generating • $300 million in annual tax revenues. • This fall, Red Chris, the first mine to connect to the NTL, will open.
Red Chris is one of the top 10 copper gold deposits in the world and it will provide highpaying, family-supporting jobs for decades. When it opens this fall, the $540 million project will employ 350 people, including many First Nations. The jobs and opportunities supported by this world-class mineral deposit would not have been possible without the reliable and affordable supply of clean electricity provided by the NTL. Red Chris is only the beginning. More than one-quarter of the 19 major mine proposals currently active in the environmental assessment process are located in the Northwest and in 2012, over 40% GOVERNMENT OF BC PHOTO of exploration spending in British Columbia ENERGY AND mines minister Bill Bennett, right, speaks with Red Chris mine construction occurred in the region. workers during a tour of the site in the summer of 2013. AV GAS This year, a decision is expected the enviand the largest single generate electricity. Whether it’s mining JET A onAND JETjobs.B FUEL ronmental assessment In addition to new intake run-of-river proj- This clean supply of or clean energy, strong for the KSM project – mines, the NTL also OIL ect in British Columbia. electricity will provide relationships with First HT LUBRICANTS/MOTOR one of the largest unde- supports clean energy, Forest Kerr will redirect the affordable and reli- Nations are absolutely BULK FUEL DELIVERY veloped gold projects in such as the $725 mil- a portion of the flow of able power to support essential. That’s why the world - representing lion Forest Kerr proj- the Iskut River through economic growth and British Columbia be24 HOUR GAS a potential investment ect & – oneDIESEL of the largest a tunnel to an under- resource development came the first province of over $5 billion and infrastructure CARDLOCK SYSTEM develop- ground powerhouse in British Columbia’s to share direct revenue over 1,000 long-term ments in the Northwest containing turbines to northwest. generated from new
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AV GAS JET A AND JET B FUEL HT LUBRICANTS/MOTOR OIL BULK FUEL DELIVERY 24 HOUR GAS & DIESEL CARDLOCK SYSTEM
ID ENTERPRISES LTD.
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June 2014
mines and clean energy projects with First Nations and it’s why AltaGas worked hard to complete a comprehensive Impact Benefit Agreement with the Tahltan Nation for the Forest Kerr project. Today, the mining sector supports over 30,000 jobs with an average salary of over $120,000 and is the largest private sector employer of First Nations in British Columbia. The clean energy industry is also critical to our economic development – employing 2700 people, including 690 First Nations, in many remote communities across the province. The NTL and the access it provides to affordable, reliable and clean energy will ensure that these critical industries continue to grow and provide wellpaying jobs for families and communities in British Columbia for generations to come. Provincial energy and mines minister Bill Bennett is also the MLA for Kootenay East.
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