Canada and British Columbia marked the start of construction on the first phase of the North Coast Transmission Line on September 3. The segment is planned to run 165 kilometres at 500 kilovolts, linking the Williston substation near Prince George with the Glenannan substation near Fraser Lake. The federal announcement says the wider project is intended to increase electricity capacity for the province’s North Coast.

Ottawa and Victoria said they are committing C$3.9 billion toward the first two phases. Government projections say completion could more than double clean-power availability along the West Coast and generate about C$10 billion in economic activity. The announcement identified the Ksi Lisims LNG facility and critical-mineral developments in the Golden Triangle as potential beneficiaries. First Nations have an opportunity to co-own as much as 50% of the new line.