As Langley continues to see construction and population growth, BC Hydro says it’s making a big investment in the area.
BC Hydro announced Wednesday that $725 million worth of capital construction will take place in Langley over the next 10 years to upgrade and expand the electricity grid and provide clean power for homes and businesses.
At a press event Wednesday morning, B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Josie Osborne said these types of projects will create thousands of jobs.
“This will provide thousands of high-quality jobs for skilled workers, supporting 10,500 to 12,500 jobs throughout the province on average over the next decade,” said Osborne.
The ministry says, “The plan reflects growing demand for electricity across sectors due to population growth and housing construction, increased industrial development, and people and businesses switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity, among other factors.”
Osborne said the investment will support tens of thousands of new homes and help attract new residents and clean industries to the province, by improving the sustainability of Langley’s infrastructure.
“These investments will support two new substations, the expansion of the McClellan substation,” said Osborne. “And upgrades to the electricity system that are needed to enable the Surrey Langley SkyTrain.”
The ministry says electricity demand in B.C. is expected to increase by 15 per cent or more between now and 2030.
BC Hydro says the Langley projects will add enough electricity to power up to 140,000 homes.
—With files from Dean Recksiedler.