Trenching of provincial interconnection cable completed
Investing in Infrastructure -
Trenching of the new electrical power cables across the Northumberland Strait is complete.
The Isaac Newton cable-laying vessel has completed the trench work on the Interconnection Upgrade Project that began with pre-trenching in May 2016. Once energized the two new power cables will have a capacity of 180 megawatts each.
“Construction of the PEI-NB Interconnection Cable has been our government’s top infrastructure priority,” Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar said. “Although the Island generates 25 per cent of its own electricity from wind, our residents and our economy depend on a reliable connection to off- Island electrical power.
“Maritime Electric has been a great partner is getting this project completed, and I also appreciate the financial support of the federal government in making this work possible.”
The cables will undergo multiple tests before they are up and running. The provincial government expects to officially take ownership of the cable this coming June; there will be no fishing restrictions in the waters over the cable after June 3, 2017.
Prior to the new cables, the province’s electricity was provided by two 40-year-old cables with a total capacity of 200 megawatts. The new cables will increase the province’s total interconnection capacity to 560 megawatts.
The Isaac Newton is expected to sail to Charlottetown over the weekend before returning to Europe in coming days.
Media contact:
Ron Ryder
Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy
rrryder@gov.pe.ca
(902)368-5112