Waneta Expansion Project in pictures
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership (WELP), a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust, recently announced that the Waneta Expansion Project near Trail is now online and generating power.
With the help of photographer Larry Doell and Columbia Power Corportation, here a photo gallery view of some of the highlights of the five-year project.
Waneta Expansion Quick Facts:
- Employed over 1,400 people.
- During peak employment, there were over 50 apprentices on site.
- 194 apprentices (from 13 trades) received skills training.
- Over 70 per cent of the workforce came from within 100 km of the project.
- 13 Ktunaxa Nation citizens, including trades apprentices and journeymen, worked on the project.
- Regional spending on goods and services exceeded $220 million.
- Project wages exceeded $95 million.
- With over 3 million person hours logged there were only two minor lost time incidents and no major environmental incidents or concerns.
- Will power about 60,000 homes per year through clean, renewable hydroelectric power.
- $50,000 is awarded annually to research, physical works, and other on-the-ground or applied terrestrial compensation projects. The program will continue for three years following completion of the expansion project this year.
- The project is situated in an area claimed as traditional territories by both the Ktunaxa Nation Council and Okanagan Nation Alliance. Benefit agreements with both First Nations were executed and the Owner and Contractors worked closely with First Nations to maximize opportunities and benefits.
- Rock and overburden removed: enough to fill 82,000 tandem truckloads.
- Concrete used: 85,000 m3, enough to fill over thirty Olympic sized swimming pools.
- Completed all rock blasting without damage to any neighbouring facilities and without injury to white sturgeon.
- A Community Impact Management Committee met on a monthly basis to provide ongoing support to encourage positive community impacts and a forum to discuss and address issues raised by the community resulting from construction of the project. The committee includes local residents, members of local and regional government, First Nations and representatives from the Owner and Contractor.
This post was syndicated from https://thenelsondaily.com
