The B.C. government has approved the $217-million McLymont Creek run-of-the-river power project in north-west B.C.
An environmental assessment gives the project the green light but imposes a number of restrictions, including that Alt-aGas Renewable Energy Inc. must maintain minimum water levels in the creek and minimize the effect of the project on mountain goats.
BC Hydro has already signed an agreement to buy power from the hydroelectric project.
The project will pump about 70 megawatts into the BC Hydro grid, enough electricity to power more than 38,000 homes each year.
The project is expected to create more than 100 jobs during the three-year construction period. Another two to four permanent jobs will be created.
The project will connect to Hydro's new 344-kilometre, $400-million northwest power line under construction along the Highway 37 corridor.
The McLymont Creek project is scheduled to be producing power by November 2015.
The project is located about 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver.
It will require roads and a 10-kilometre transmission line to hook into the new northwest power line.
