BiPole III 500 kV HVDC Transmission Project

The line will originate at a new northern converter station site near the proposed Conawapa Generation Station (dam) site east of Gillam in northern Manitoba. It is also likely to cross the project areas for three intended new generation stations. It will terminate at a new converter station at the Riel Site east of Winnipeg, in the Rural Municipality of Springfield.

1. Introduction of project to the public
2. site selection and environmental assessment (SSEA) process
3. alternative route selection and

The Manitoba Hydro website does not identify the requirements for Aboriginal consultations, and accommodation of any potential impacts on Aboriginal rights. Potentially both the provincial crown and federal crown (government) will have responsibility for meaningful consultation, while the utility continues its staged consultations.

In late July 2010 the preferred corridor route was selected by Manitoba Hydro. Manitoba government policy, and direction to Manitoba Hydro, was to select a route for Bipole III on the west side of the province. Specifically the Manitoba government has directed the publicly owned utility to avoid the boreal forest regions east of Lake Winnipeg as a route for Bipole III.

Comment

Bipole III: Energy Reliability or Export Sales? By Gaile Whelan Enns Manitobans are familiar with news coverage, and the political storm about the Bipole III corridor. But Manitobans are not familiar with the Bipole III process. In fact there is little information and discussion, compared to the Wuskwatim hearings and media coverage in 2003, 2004, 2005. So the 1400 km direct current (DC) 500 kv Bipole III line may be a big yawn. Or it may be the key to how we make decisions about energy, our economy, Aboriginal rights, and Manitoba’s economy into the future. The public process started in 2009. Manitoba Hydro has been planning Bipole III for many years. The first effort, over twenty years ago, to build Conawapa generation station, included three options for a 500 kv DC transmission corridor from top to the bottom of Manitoba’s east side. (east of Lake Winnipeg.) View the rest of the article

Bipole III Environment Act Licence Appeals
In September 2013 Manitoba Wildlnds appealed the Bipole III environment act licence. Various other communities and organizations also appealed the licence. These appeals are not provided in the public registry in Manitoba’s regulatory system.

We're providing those September 2013 licence appeal comments here.

In January 2014 Manitoba Justice determined a further appeal to cabinet of the Bipole III licence is required. The basis for their determination have not been procided. Those organizations, individuals and communities who appealed the Bipole III licence in September 2013 were notified. Some were able to participate in the steps required for the appeal to cabinet. It is not clear how the appeals filed in September 2013 will be assessed, or whether the appeal to cabinet process cancels those appeals of the Bipole III licence.

Manitoba Wildlands filed its remarks about the appeal to cabinet of the Bipole III environment act licence, and they are provided here.

View January 17, 2014 Manitoba Wildlands letter

Cabinet to Review Bipole III Transmission Project
Manitoba Justice has determined an appeal to cabinet is required for Manitoba Hydro's controversial Bipole III transmission project. The project is intended to be a new 500 kv direct current line from northern Manitoba, to the east side of Winnipeg. The transmission project licence includes a new converter station, to be situated on the east side of Winnipeg, on lands assembled in 2009. The project starts in the multi hydro project zone along the Nelson River where Manitoba Hydro aims to build two new generation stations, multiple short transmission lines, and a new converter station.

Bipole III is one of several projects Manitoba Hydro presents to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) in hearings March and April 2014. This is the first time a multi project development plan from Manitoba Hydro has been reviewed by the PUB. The Clean Environment Commission (CEC) hearings regarding Bipole III were held in fall 2012, and early 2013. All participants in the hearings asked the CEC to not recommend a licence be issued

The Environment Act licence for Bipole III was issued in August 2013, with an appeal period of 30 days. Numerous appeals were filed, including from multiple Manitoba First Nations. Each appellant will soon start to receive materials with deadlines to respond in writing for each stage of the appeal to cabinet. It is unclear how those times stages will work given how many appellants are outside Winnipeg.

Several laws in Manitoba leave a last option for appeal to cabinet. Ministers who have responsibility for decisions with aspects of Bipole III are not part of the appeal hearing in cabinet. There have been past instances of in person appeal hearings with cabinet under Manitoba laws.

The Bipole III appeal to cabinet will be a paper process for appellants, like the appeal to cabinet regarding the Wuskwatim Generation and Transmission appeal to cabinet.

View Manitoba Hydro NFAT Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan
View Public Registry File for Bipole III Transmission Project
View December 2, 2013 Manitoba Government letter
View December 2, 2013 Manitoba Government letter with attachments

Comments: Dorsey to Portage Transmission Line
Manitoba Wildlands provide comments to Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship (MCWS) on the proposed Manitoba Hydro Dorsey to Portage Transmission Line Project (Public Registry #5611.00) December 21, 2012.

The comments noted that the review period, access to supporting environmental assessment materials, and First Nations consultations were all inadequate. Manitoba Wildlands recommended that MCWS require Manitoab Hydro to make a supplemental filing that clearly outlines project scope, guidelines, and alternatives.

View December 21, 2012 Manitoba Wildlands Comments: Dorsey to Portage Transmission Line Project – Public Registry #5611.00 (PDF)

Bipole III Clean Environment
Commission Hearings

Manitoba BiPole III Review Flawed
Manitoba Wildlands filed review comments about Manitoba Hydro's environmental statement for the contentious BiPole III transmission project. The proposed corridor and transmission system will be a 500 kv high-voltage direct current system to move power from northern dams to a converter station south east of Winnipeg.

Controversy has dogged the project since the Manitoba government instructed the publicly owned utility to build the 1400 kilometer transmission project on the west side of the province, keeping it out of the largely intact east side of Manitoba. Independent studies for valuation of the boreal forests regions on both sides of Manitoba are not forthcoming. The public continues to question whether the transmission line is being built for energy security and reliability, or to export energy to the United States by servicing future dams in northern Manitoba.

Now the project is dogged by problems, notably failure to start Aboriginal and First Nations consultations, lack of data from actual fieldwork along the intended corridor, and a need to solve deficiencies in the first filing. Forty Aboriginal communities are affected by the preferred corridor location.

Concerns about large mammals, especially woodland caribou, elk, and moose arise from the utility's first filing. Seven woodland caribou herds are located in the study area, with greater risks for four herds. Due to decline in population and years of public concern, Manitoba closed the moose hunt in 2011. Recently the government announced the moose population, in regions where the BiPole III will be built, has stabilized.

Manitoba Hydro was allowed to define the project area, study area, and local study area so it can pick information to use, including to self assess impacts. Access to first filing materials is inadequate, with many improvements needed in the supplemental filing.

BiPole III Environment Statement Review
Manitoba Hydro filed its Environment Impact Statement ( EIS) for BiPole III under the Manitoba Environment Act in December 2011. Manitoba Conservation reviewed the EIS, sent public notices, filed the EIS in public registries and then the 90 day review period started just before Christmas. It is expected the Technical Advisory Committee, and various government departments will file review comments about the EIS. Deficiencies in the EIS are identified through this review process, and as often happens with Class Three Developments in Manitoba, the utility will be asked to file supplemental information in response to the review comments.

Manitoba Wildlands filed review comments, though was not able to respond fully to the binders full of materials, and the over 150 maps.

Download March 16, 2012 Manitoba Wildlands comments (PDF)

Bipole III Comments Deadline Announced
Comments on Manitoba Hydro's Bipole III Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are due by March 16, 2012. Following the public comments period, an updated EIS maybe filed. The Clean Environment Commission will then hold hearings during 2012.

The timing of the review period raised some concerns. "It is inappropriate for a review period to fall squarely in the holiday season when many government offices are closed. Many First Nation offices will be closed for three weeks over the holidays. The 90 day review period should be extended accordingly," said Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns.

The EIS documents are available in paper copy at Manitoba Public Registry locations, and online through Manitoba Hydro's website.

It remains unclear if a federal review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) will be required. The June 2011 final Scoping Document for Bipole III states: "It is anticipated that Manitoba Conservation will coordinate a cooperative environmental assessment process ... under The Environment Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act." (pg. 3)

Yet the December 2011 EIS for Bipole III now states: "In the case of Bipole III, Manitoba Hydro is of the opinion that an environmental assessment will not be required pursuant to federal legislation." (pg. 1-11)

Responsible federal authorities are presently reviewing the EIS.

Where Is The Bipole III Environment Statement?
Bipole III is a transmission system and corridor Manitoba Hydro will run from a new converter station near the proposed Conawapa Generation Station (dam) site east of Gillam in northern Manitoba to a new converter station east of Winnipeg in southern Manitoba.

The preferred route for Bipole III would be separate from Bipoles I & II, as both run parallel to each other in the same corridor. Bi Pole III aims to enhance energy security and reliability for Manitoba. The intended construction of new hydro-electric generating sites in Manitoba's north requires Manitoba Hydro build the Bi Pole III transmission corridor to move power to southern markets. The choice of where to route the transmission corridor has been controversial with the preferred west side corridor now assured.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Bi Pole III, required under Manitoba's environment act, and originally expected in summer 2011, was delayed and is now expected to be submitted for public review before the end of 2011.

It is unclear when the EIS will be submitted to Manitoba Conservation, by Manitoba Hydro, what the process and duration of public review will be, and whether this transmission project will involve public hearings, with public participant funding. To date the Minister of Conservation has not provided a 'reference' to the Clean Environment Commission to hold hearings. Hearings would follow all stages of EIS review.

Manitoba Hydro will need to make sure that access to the Bi Pole III EIS materials is at the same standard used during the EIS review for the Wuskwatim transmission project. The range of stakeholders and affected communities means it is essential that Bi Pole III materials are available on paper, on DVDs, and posted on government and Hydro websites.

Costing more than $2 billion and spanning 1,364 kilometres, the proposed corridor will run down the west side of the province connecting the Keewatinoow Converter Station (northeast of the town of Gillam) to the Riel Converter Station (east of Winnipeg in the Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Springfield).

Originally Hydro looked at BiPole III options along the east side of Lake Winnipeg, but the government directed Manitoba Hydro to use the west side leaving Manitoba's east side Boreal Forest in tact.

"We believe that we have selected the route with the least impact on the environment and on the communities and residents along the proposed path of the transmission line," said Manitoba Hydro president and CEO Bob Brennan, "It takes out ... 37 acres of agricultural land. In that whole route, we thought that was excellent - 37 acres is not very much in building a line this size."

Manitoba Hydro will begin a series of meetings with municipalities and aboriginal communites and stakeholders in 2010. Hydro is promising to provide fair and equitable compensation packages for landowners affected by the preferred right-of-way, Information centres will provide an opportunity for landowners to discuss the project with Hydro staff and obtain more details.

Politically, the transmission line is a hot topic. The Opposition Tories state the longer route would add over $600 million to BiPole III's costs, while the Liberals argue running Bi-Pole III under Lake Winnipeg would simultaneously reduce costs by $300 million and minimize environmental impact.

Manitoba Wildlands submitted comments on the proposed Bi-Polle III Scoping Document March 2010 which questioned: the standards being used, why the line was only rated for 500 Kilo-volts (Kv) when lines built elsewhere had capacities as high as 1200 Kv, and why a route under Lake Winnipeg had not been given more consideration. A July 2009 poll conducted by Manitoba Wildlands determined 76% of respondents favoured running portions of Bi-Pole III under Lake Winnipeg.

Construction is expected to start in 2012 with an in-service date for the project of 2017.

Clean Environment Commission chair Terry Sargent provided analysis and comments during the review of the Bi Pole III scoping document. Manitoba Wildlands is posting his recommendations. Sets of comments and recommendations about the scoping document to inform the Bi Pole III EIS are in the Manitoba Conservation public registry file for Manitoba Hydro's Bi Pole III project,. Mr. Sargent's recommendations, to date, are not included in that public registry file.

Download April 14, 2010 Letter from Terry Sargeant, Chair, Clean Environment Commission (PDF)

The Manitoba Wildlands review comments aim to help raise the standard for planning, designing, constructing and operating new transmission systems in Manitoba. It has been over 40 years since a DC transmission line was built in Manitoba, and over ten years since the newest AC lines were designed.

East-West Power Grid & Hydro MOU