INNOVATION July-August 2015

2014 ¢

2015 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

In August 2015, a major BC Hydro’s Distribution System project – Tofino to Ahousaht Submarine Cable Project – went into service on the west coast of Vancouver Island improving the power supply reliability and meeting the growing power demand of Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations communities located north of Tofino. The project involved installation of approximately 35 kilometers of submarine cables along the rocky Clayoquot Sound between Tofino and Meares Island (Opitsaht) and between Meares Island and Vargas Island. This project proved to be one of BC Hydro’s rare system expansion projects that increased the system’s power supply capacity and reliability and also left a smaller environmental footprint than when initiated. This was the result of a bold initiative when the project team recommended changing the existing cable route and bypassing treacherous Morfee Island. Project owner: BC Hydro. APEGBC members: Nick Chopra, P.Eng.; Calin Micu, P.Eng. Submarine Cable Project

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