A huge environmental win took place Dec. 13 with the completion of the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission line to 12 northern First Nations north of Red Lake and Pickle Lake. Five more First Nations will be added in the near-future.
This means these northern communities will no longer be using diesel-powered generators for their electrical needs.
The Watay Power company is majority owned by 24 First Nations. They have been planning and working on the power line project for 35 years.
The megaproject includes 1,800 kms of transmission lines and 22 substations in Northwestern Ontario.
The two lines of the project run from Red Lake to Sandy Lake and Pickle Lake to Bearskin Lake with another branch to Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug or Big Trout Lake.
Another big transmission line is proceeding from Thunder Bay to Atikokan and on to Dryden. The Waasigan Transmission line will bring an additional 350 megawatts to the region. That is more than twice what it now takes to power Thunder Bay.
Hydro One and nine First Nations are behind this endeavour which is in the construction phase and will be completed by the end of 2027.
More power from electricity and less from fossil fuels -- just what the environmental doctor ordered!
3 comments:
That is good news with less diesel being burned. Supplying natural gas would be another way to reduce the reliance on burning wood to heat homes and reduce the risk of fires possibly injuring occupants or worse. Thanks for sharing.
mike s
I think many people would be surprised to know there used to be a powerline to the west end of Red Lake. The electricity came from the hydro plant at Ear Falls and the line extended all the way to Miles Mine at the end of Trout Bay and also connected several of the other west end mines. It crossed the lake with tall wooden posts made of Douglas fir at Middle Narrows and Pipestone Narrows.
The old Shearn Store that was situated right across the water from Bow Narrows Camp, where the green buoy is located today, was connected to the line.
Actually, when I think of it, at least some of those posts were made of west coast cedar. When the line was taken down in the '60s because of its hazard to float planes local people from Red Lake took the poles and cut them into lumber to make cedar chests and the like.
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