www.SBP-RTS.com

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The Impact of Technology Selection on Stakeholder
Acceptance Permitting EUCI Conference San
Diego, California
Rod Lenfest Transmission Business
Development rod_lenfest_at_sbp-rts.com

• www.SBP-RTS.com

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• Where is the Routing?
• Who are the Stakeholders?
• What is the Technology?
• What are the Impacts?

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• Juan de Fuca Cable Project
• Vancouver Island Cable Project
• Technology
• Permitting Requirements
• Consultation and Collaboration

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• www.SBP-RTS.com

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Project Description - Location
Connects converter stations near existing
substations.
Approximate cable lengths
Proposed length on B.C. side 12 km Proposed
length on WA side 3 km Length at sea 34
km Victoria to Port Angeles 49 km
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Route Selection Methodology

• Process involves
• Environmental studies
• Evaluation of study results
• Consultation with stakeholders
• Decision based on technical feasibility,
  minimizing environmental impacts

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Aerial view of possible line route from
foreshore, under Liberty Street to proposed
converter station location in Port Angeles
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• -First Nations on southern Vancouver Island
  Indian and Northern Affairs Canada plus the
  Hulquminum Treaty Group who may have possible
  interest in marine issues.
• Involved Municipal and Regional Governments
  including the Mayors and Council members from
  Port Angeles, Esquimalt, View Royal, Highlands,
  Saanich and the Capital Region District.
• BC Hydro, BCTC, BPA

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- Other Canadian and British Columbian agencies
including the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Agency Department of National Defense Canadian
Forces Base Esquimalt Environment Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Transport Canada BC
One Line BC Safety Authority Canadian Coast
Guard-Vessel Traffic Services Victoria Port
Authority Land and Water BC, Inc. BC Ministry
of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources BC
Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management BC
Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts BC
Ministry of Transport and the Pacific Pilotage
Authority. - All involved Chambers of Commerce
and economic development corporations. - The
Commercial fishers.
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Environmental non-governmental organizations,
such as the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
(CPAWS) the David Suzuki Foundation Sierra Club
of Canada BC Chapter Victoria and Esquimalt
Harbour Environmental Action Program (VEHEAP) BC
Sustainable Energy Association Dogwood
Initiative Georgia Straight Alliance Georgia
Straight Crossing Coalition Living Oceans
Society Victoria and Esquimalt Harbour Society
and the Northwest Energy Coalition. - Other
utilities and corporations, including Alcan,
ENMAX Power Corp., EPCOR Power Services Ltd.,
FortisBC, Teck Cominco Ltd. Telus, Terasen Gas,
Group Telecom, Southern Railway, Canadian Railway
/ Rail America, and TransAlta. - Property
owners directly affected by cable siting.
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HVDC Light Technology

• State-of-the-Art HVDC light Technology
• Low environmental impact
• No fluctuating electro-magnetic field (EMF)
• Non-liquid insulation

Gotland HVDC Light cables. Photo courtesy of
ABB.
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Technology
All cables buried - No overhead lines AC
transmission HVDC Light
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. . .Technology
Converter station needed to convert DC to AC and
vice versa
HVDC Light converter stations provide voltage
stability to existing transmission grids
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Stakeholder Consultation and Collaboration
Emphasis for Public Consultation
Collaboration with Towns

• Technology
• no fluctuating EMF
• buried facilities
• enclosed converter stations
• well-understood installation
• Other Projects
• Neptune
• Murraylink, Directlink
• Cross-Sound Cable
• European Experience
• Expected Impacts
• Similar to installation of utilities
• traffic disruption, noise
• quick installation

• Utilities
• Water pipelines
• Sewer pipelines
• Other utilities
• Third-party utilities
• Other Infrastructure
• Sidewalks, traffic control
• Pavement, road improvements
• Public Benefits
• Parks
• Bike paths, walking trails

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Current in Two Lines
 
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Technology
Static magnetic field is similar to the Earths
magnetic field
Magnetic fields cancel out
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Terrestrial Installation
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Project Description Installation
On Land

• Cables buried all the way to converter station

Diagram of cable installation beneath road
right-of-way
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Installation Marine to Terrestrial Transition

• Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) will be
  used to avoid adverse environmental effects.
• A versatile technology that uses a
  precision-guided directional system to bore a
  hole through soil or rock.

Photo courtesy of the Crossing Company
An HDD rig
As a result, the intertidal zone would be
undisturbed by cable installation.
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installation construction
Horizontal Directional Drilling
Minimizes impacts to sensitive aquatic habitats

• Rivers and riparian areas
• Intertidal zone.

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Project Description Installation
Adjacent to rail tracks
cable installation within railway right-of-way
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Environmental Permitting Requirements
Proposed Marine Studies
Proposed Terrestrial Studies

• Physical
• Bathymetry
• Geotechnical
• Terrain and obstacles
• Archaeology
• - Offshore core sampling
• Biological
• Mammals
• Fisheries
• Birds
• Nearshore ecosystem
• Socio-economic studies
• - Traditional use and knowledge

• Physical
• Geotechnical
• Hydrology
• Archaeology
• Noise
• Biological
• Wildlife and avifauna
• Vegetation
• Socio-economic studies
• - Public Health, Safety

Sea Breeze is committed to a high standard of
consultation with any individuals or groups who
may be affected by the Project.
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Summary
Our experience shows - that once the technology
is explained, both local governments and the
public readily accept a transmission project
involving HVDC Light. - it is important to follow
a systematic routing method, with key stakeholder
consultation and public relations as a critical
part of the process. - meeting with town civil
engineers and stressing the opportunities for
collaboration is a key step in highlighting the
benefits of HVDC Light transmission systems.