P.E.I. underwater power cable plan goes to public for input
Public consultations to be held in P.E.I., N.B. in coming weeks
The Environmental Impact Assessment report for two new proposed underwater electricity cables to the mainland has been filed with regulators.
P.E.I. Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar said Islanders can review the document, provide comments, attend open houses, and provide input on the cable project.
Public consultations will be held in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick over the next few weeks.
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Discussions will centre around the route for the two underwater submarine cables between Borden, P.E.I., and Cape Tormentine, N.B., along with 60 kilometres of new transmission line construction between Cape Tormentine and Memramcook.
Construction of a substation extension in Borden is also proposed.
Along with the environmental assessment, other authorizations and permits are required.
If approved, cable installation would begin in the Northumberland Strait in the fall of 2016, with the final project being completed in June 2017.
The P.E.I. government would own the new connection, through the P.E.I Energy Corporation, and Maritime Electric would operate it.
The two new cables will have a total capacity of 360 MW, replacing the two 100 MW lines currently running under the Northumberland Strait.
The current cables are 38 years old and have a maximum life expectancy of 50 years. Maritime Electric has said it considers every year past 40 a risk.
In March, the federal government announced it would contribute $50 million toward the project, which is estimated to run somewhere between $120 million and $140 million.