Coquitlam council has ruled out two possible routes for the next power transmission line from the city to Vancouver.
On Monday, councillors unanimously rejected Alternatives 1 and 3 of the Metro North Transmission Study, saying it wants no more overhead wires through residential areas. A letter will be sent to Bill Bennett, B.C.'s minister of energy and mines, to convey Coquitlam's opposition to the two routes.
BC Hydro is considering three routes for one or two 230 kV lines, starting at either the Meridian or the Como Lake substations in Coquitlam and ending at the new Mount Pleasant substation in Vancouver.
Its goal is to meet future demand for electricity in Metro Vancouver as well as to increase transmission capacity and strengthen the network's load.
Alternative 1 proposes to run from the Como Lake substation via Lougheed Highway and Highway 1, adding overhead lines to existing towers through commercial and industrial sections in Coquitlam.
Alternative 2 proposes to run from the Meridian substation (on Westwood Plateau) via a Burrard Inlet crossing, twinning existing lines through Coquitlam.
Alternative 3 proposes to run from the Como Lake substation via Burnaby, with lines underneath Como Lake Avenue.
BC Hydro will pick a "lead alternative" this spring and hold open houses this fall to gauge feedback on that choice. The Crown corporation is expected to file its bid with the BC Utilities Commission next year to build the project by 2018.
